OPINION: It’s Time That Orchesis is Recognized as Not Only an Art but a Sport

Photo courtesy of Holton communications

Gasping for breath and with my heart erratically shuddering against my chest, I exit the stage, instantly cooler as the glare of the blinding lights slides off my back and trickles off my arms. A tornado of sequins, sparkles and fringe zips past. Maneuvering through stretching dancers and anxious choreographers, I slip into the hallway embracing the quietness. Stinging with each new

gasp, my throat pushes against my skin, exacerbating an itch that can only be remedied with water and a break; a break I won’t be afforded.

Orchesis is always like this. Half a year of abs, jumping jacks and constant rehearsals, just to be left breathless, aching and bruised by the time the lights dim on our final show. Unlike in more “traditional” sports, dance provides the opportunity to tell a story with your body. A story about love, women’s rights, feeling alienated, gun violence or even a cult.

Dance is art, but dance is also a sport; a statement, while simple in theory, has led to, in practice, Orchesis being left dangling precariously between the two worlds of Holton: the athletics and the arts.

Dancing for the ensemble, in some capacity, for the last six years, I’ve seen both departments give Orchesis, either intentionally or unintentionally, the short end of the stick. While we can choose to gain sports credits for our two-trimester season, the group doesn’t receive an invitation to the annual sports banquet or the opportunity to promote a panther of the week, get included in HAA, receive a shoutout in any of the athletic emails or gain social media support.

These actions matter to the members of Orchesis. Often, the studio, usually a place of laughter and joy, suffocates with the dancers’ feelings of being diminished or ‘othered’ and isolated from the sports community.

These public displays of support not only bring awareness of upcoming matches but display what the school values and foster community. Orchesis wants to be a part of that community.

I will admit that the arts program, with its increased invitations to perform and the creation of the Artist Spotlight, has helped foster a stronger sense of recognition and appreciation for creativity within our community. As I rotated in and out of meetings with the head of the arts program, I

was excited by her enthusiasm for the group and our talents. However, my excitement faded when I learned that the BSU mixer and the Orchesis concert fell on the same day. I believe it’s ignorant to assume that the bustling and busy Holton students would stay for both events, encompassing a total of five hours, on their Friday night.

I had been hopeful, but in that moment, reality set in. I believe that Orchesis deserved its own day. I spend six months watching the dancers dedicate their bodies, minds, stories and time to our ensemble and our show. Day in and day out, its dancers show up for one another.

I think it’s beautiful that we toe the line between athletics and the arts. It makes us distinctive and exciting. I just hope that, one day, Orchesis can fully reap the benefits of both departments and act as a true bridge builder for the school.