The lives of CSU dancers in and outside the studio – The Cauldron
Dance is a complex sport that can put immense pressure on the physical and mental health of dancers.
On the edge of the Cleveland State University (CSU) campus sits the Department of Theater and Dance. Student artists spend hours each day shaping their craft, whether it be acting or dancing.
Music bounces off the walls of the dance studios as dancers leap into the air, twisting and turning with poise and precision. Dance is an ancient art form, and displays a communication of emotion through movement and music.
Leah Jeter and Zoe Frager are dance students at CSU and have shared their experiences and relationship to dance.
Leah Jeter, a dance major, is new to dance compared to her peers. Jeter joined theater at the age of 15 and it was through acting on stage that she found her passion for dance.
“A lot of my classmates had studios [growing up], starting off with ballet. But I started off with theater,” Jeter said.
Jeter started dancing at Karamu House, the oldest African American theater in the United States.
Theater and dance revolve around one another. So many actors are taught to dance for shows or musicals. Jeter was able to take her first dance class while at Karamu House, even after realizing that acting was not the path she wanted to take in life.
“It was really nice because we were in a Black space and I was learning from Black dancers,” Jeter said.
At Karamu House, Jeter learned about the African American history behind hip hop and other popular dance styles through the classes and education she received. She decided to pursue an education in dance after graduating high school in 2020.
Jeter came to CSU in 2021, and after jumping between majors to find the best fit, she officially settled on dance.
“Compared to everything that I have done, dance is the one thing that made me happy,” said Jeter.
However, the road ahead of her would not be an easy one. At the beginning of the 2023 Spring semester Jeter broke her femur, causing her to be rushed to the emergency room.
“I could not straighten my leg or bend it. I kind of felt paralyzed.” said Jeter.
Jeter underwent surgery to correct the broken bone, where a titanium rod was permanently put in place to aid the healing process. Due to the trauma and stress of breaking her femur, Jeter could not participate in classes, so she made do with sitting on the sidelines and taking notes while her peers danced.
Photo taken by: Michelle Aniza Caption: Students partcipate in a lesson about the Dunham dance technique.
Though Jeter was focused on healing, her professor Michele Aniza choreographed a number specifically for Jeter. The surgery and recovery process caused the muscles in Jeter’s thigh to become weak. The choreography allowed her to dance while avoiding strain on her leg.
“It was very experimental at first, but by the time of the spring dance concert I am being carried in this chair and lifted because my leg was broken at the time that we started the choreography process.”
Jeter attributes her healing to the African dance techniques she learned from Weaver. The techniques she learned in class aided in the long process of rebuilding the muscles in her leg. Compared to the other dance styles she was used to, the Africanist styles were a challenge Jeter faced head on.
“We do not know what community we came from or country, we have created a culture based on what our ancestors have gone through from the food to movement and language.”
Through the African dance styles Jeter learned under Weaver, she has found a connection to her culture and community along with a tool that has aided her in her healing journey.
Zoe Frager is a junior theater major at CSU while also minoring in dance. Frager dreams of acting and dancing under the Broadway theater lights and sees CSU as a part of her journey to get there.
“New York is very big and expensive,” Frager said. “My aunt and uncle live here and I figured I could use this as a stepping stone to the big city.”
Photo provided by: Zoe Frager Caption: Zoe Frager, a dancer on CSU’s dance team, performs at a CSU basketball game.
Frager decided the best course of action would be to combine her love of theater with dance as a way of elevating her skill sets, allowing her to be a well-rounded performer.
On top of studying Theatre and Dance Frager is on CSU’s dance team as well as the Student Liaison for the Department of Theater and Dance, acting as a mediator between faculty and students as well as organizing and helping students during productions.
“This year has been good because I have been constantly moving, which makes me really happy,” said Frager.
In finding ways to mix theater with dance, Frager loves the way emotions and messages are able to be expressed through movements. Urinetown, the Theater Departments fall production, utilized dance to express heightened tensions and emotions of the characters when words could not.
“When emotions are too big to act you sing, when emotions are too big to sing you dance.”
Jeter and Frager are only two of the many dancers that make up CSU’s diverse performing community and the next generation of professional dancers. Dance is a challenging career that breaks down the body, but for these two dancers accomplishing their goals and dreams is worth the challenge.