Editor’s Note: This is a guest commentary. The opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board.
“Pulse is a group of strong women that inspire each other and when we come together, not only do we work hard, but it’s like therapy. Women of like experiences come together to dance, laugh and connect emotionally with one another, which is why it’s more than just a dance team.” – sophomore Pulse Member Destynee St. Agathe-Faure.
Creating spaces and events that empower and bring joy to students of color on campus is of paramount importance, especially at a predominantly white institution. Pulse Hip-Hop is the sole hip-hop dance team on campus, hosting a significant annual showcase that draws hundreds of students. The showcase serves as a highly anticipated event where students come together to support one another and celebrate the diverse talents within the BIPOC community at Ithaca College. The arts, in particular, offer an essential escape for BIPOC students, fostering feelings of value, acknowledgment and appreciation for their individuality and collectivity. It is crucial for the college to endorse more initiatives like the Pulse showcase to create a safer environment for BIPOC students.
The Pulse showcase serves as a platform for keeping Black and hip-hop culture on the college’s campus alive. Song selection plays a vital role in making the show relatable to a broad audience, featuring tracks ranging from throwbacks like Busta Rhymes’ “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” to modern hits like Drake’s “Sticky,” and even tracks in other languages like El Alfa’s “La Mamá de la Mamá.” The musicality combined with the choreography encourages enthusiastic cheers from the audience, creating the vibrant atmosphere that any college campus would crave. The dance battle during the show’s intermission offers another opportunity to promote diversity and enjoyment, where audience members are selected to compete in a dance competition. The songs chosen come from the childhoods of those of us who grew up on the east coast and are significant in how we all relate to one another. All of this is geared toward fostering a sense of community.
More importantly, for the past three years, Pulse has been led by women of color and has had a majority of women of color among its dancers — which has never happened before. As the current co-president and a Black Dominican, I am committed to preserving a legacy where Pulse serves as a sanctuary for BIPOC students and their allies to express themselves freely. This commitment has led us to collaborate with the Society of the Underground (SOU), an initiative dedicated to supporting and promoting artists of color on campus.
The Society of the Underground comprises three students, including myself, who recognized the underappreciation of rappers, singers, poets and other artists of color on campus. It was initially a public relations project, but our passion for this issue made us want to take it to a whole other level.
This collaboration would further introduce the campus community to an immense amount of talent and enhance the experiences for minorities who may feel isolated. It will give the students of color the recognition they deserve and have earned for their dedication to their crafts.
Students of color at the college deserve a place to feel inspired. They deserve a place to push the boundaries of creativity and feel that the importance of BIPOC creatives on this campus is recognized. They deserve a space that affirms their identities and collectively unites all the parts that make them, them. Events like the Pulse showcase need to keep happening and must never be stifled. The goal is for more individuals to feel capable and challenged enough to create more events that celebrate culture and to have the greater Ithaca community finally tune in.
Stephanie Duran (she/her) is a junior Advertising, Public Relations, and Marketing Communications major. Contact her at [email protected].
