Claudia Mcintosh

The ancient art of dance appeals to people from all walks of life. Many of these people seize the opportunity to be involved in the art.

Luckily for people passionate about dance (or even those who would like to begin exploring it), Brookings has a plethora of dance studios and instructors to help further or discover talent.

Melissa Hauschild-Mork, SDSU professor, choeographer and dance studio owner, instructs many of the dance classes offered on the SDSU campus.

“I think I have danced since I was born. It’s just always been a part of me,” Hauschild-Mork says.

In 1983 Hauschild-Mork started dancing professionally with encouragement from Marilyn Richardson, SDSU’s dance coordinator at the time.

Today, Hauschild-Mork is the director of the Expanding Harmony dance studio.

She says that in her experience, “Dance makes you feel whole and globally connected. It is about body, mind, and spirit … discovering who you are and what your purpose is.”

Hauschild-Mork says no one is too old to begin dancing, because if you have the desire, you will learn how your body innately moves. From there, technique development naturally falls into place.

The Wesleyan Church incorporates interpretive movement into some of its Sunday morning services.

Interpretive movement may appeal to dancers because it requires less commitment than dance classes.

Students can get involved as they choose to rather than being on a strict schedule.

“I wouldn’t call what we do ‘dance.'” says pastor Rick Wipf. “It is actually motion to music [to] help illustrate a point in the morning sermon.”

Wipf says the number of people needed varies from sermon to sermon.

Students interested in interpretive movement are encouraged to come see the interpretive movement group perfom at the Wesleyan Church Nov. 7 at the 9 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. services. For more information about interpretive movement, contact Rick Wipf at 692-6671.

#1.885711:112774564.jpg:dance.jpg:Professor Melissa Hauschild-Mork (far right) instructs a beginner dance class in the Performing Arts Center´s rehearsal studio.:Jerry Smith