Individuality, feminism and passion for dance were some of the themes expressed by faculty and students at the performance “Celebrating Women Through Dance” on Tuesday in the Altgeld Hall auditorium.

Group and solo dancers performed several different genres of dance including ballet, cultural dances, salsa, waltz and a traditional Spanish dance. There were nine performances total.

All students and faculty participants were volunteers with various majors. They have been practicing since December and January for two to three nights a week, said Kahphira Palmer, choreographer and teaching graduate assistant of physical education.

Dolly and Jim Olson, residents of Rockford, said they enjoyed the performance and thought the dancers deserved a larger audience because of their hard work. About 40 to 50 people attended the event.

Dance is a form of expression and individualism, which brings many people of different ages, races and body types together, Palmer said. This is one way of celebrating women – through movement. The dancers range from age 18 to over age 40 and all work cohesively, she said.

“Dancing brings me joy in sharing what I have,” Palmer said.

Jessica Lyons, a senior special education major, said she volunteered to be one of the dancers because of her love for dancing. She performed in three of the dances – “Endangered Species,” “It Takes All Kinds” and “Soca Bashment.”

“Dancing is a way to bring out my own outlet, to express myself and to relieve stress,” Lyons said.

The performance Tuesday was one of the six performances done by the choreographers. The next scheduled performance is Thursday, said Danielle Jay, a professor of dance education, kinesiology and physical education.

Jay said she loves choreographing and dancing because it is a way to share her talent with others.

“This event is special because it’s all for women and about women,” Jay said.

The beauty of dance is that it can be done at any age and is a lifelong activity that can bring others joy, she said.

Jay, who has been dancing since she was three-and-a-half, said the dance she performed, “Amazing Grace,” is a piece she likes because it’s like “expressing a prayer through dance.”

Clersida Garcia, choreographer of the dance “Salsa Cubana” and associate professor for kinesiology and physical education said the traditional piece is named “Salsa Cosino Rueda” – a group dance done in a circle with both male and female dancers. There are 350 turns in the traditional dance, 15 of which were shown in the NIU performance, Garcia said.

“I feel very strong about my culture, and this is an opportunity to communicate to students the spirit of culture,” Garcia said.

Jay and Garcia, as well as the student salsa dancers, will be performing at the (American Association Help for Physical Recreation Education and Dance) national convention in Chicago for Recreational Day on April 12.

Ryan McCauley, one of the dancers in “Salsa Cubana” and a junior physical education major, said he’s never been in dance but he thought this would be a good opportunity.

“I encourage all NIU students to try to learn dance,” Garcia said. “It’s a way to try to express yourself and enjoy your spirit.”