Club Spotlight! Sláinte: Fordham Irish Dance

Here at Fordham, there are over 100 clubs and extracurricular activities that students can participate in. From political groups, to choirs, to the Campus Activities Board, to a culinary council and more, whatever you’re interested in, Fordham most likely has it.

My suitemate, Kayla Slattery, is the Co-President of Sláinte, the Irish Dance group here at Rose Hill. Apart from Irish dance, there are other dance groups on campus as well for students who may prefer other styles of dance. Check out an interview below that I conducted with Kayla!

Kayla and the team!

So what inspired you to start Sláinte?
Kayla: Dance had been such a big part of my life for so many years that when I came to Fordham that part of me was missing. I knew other girls here who felt the same way, so having this club is a great way to continue my love of dance and meet other people who have the same interests.
Was it easy to get the club up and running?
Kayla: It definitely was a process, but after we wrote our constitution and it was approved, Fordham helped us get our club under way and we’ve grown a lot since it started!
What are some activities that you guys do?
Kayla: We practice twice a week and we work on choreographies and exercises to prepare for upcoming events and performances. We’ll be competing at the intercollegiate Irish Dance Competition in the Spring of 2015! We also host Ceili Nights, which are social dances with food and friends, you don’t have to have any experience to go, and it’s a great way to meet new people and learn a fun dance! Our next one is on Tuesday the 18th.
Would you describe Fordham as an involved campus?
Kayla: Yes, I would definitely describe Fordham as involved. There are so many activities to participate in, and everyone is just looking to be a part of something, and make new friends, and participate in something they love. It’s been a great experience!

On the Court at RamTown

RamTown atmosphere

One of the biggest nights of the year on campus was pretty special for me. Ram Town is similar to a midnight madness event. It is the opening night of the Men’s and Women’s basketball seasons. Held in the Rose Hill Gym, home of the two teams, Ram Town is a night of free food, prizes, and contests to get students excited about the upcoming basketball seasons. As a member of the Fordham Dance Team, I got to actually participate in the planning and executing of the event, which most students do not get to experience.

The Fordham Dance Team at the start of RamTown.

The night started off with the women’s basketball team making their introduction onto the court. As last year’s A10 champions, they unveiled two new banners in the gym in honor of their success. As a part of the dance team’s responsibilities, we got to stand on the court and cheer with the team as the banners were released. When men’s basketball made their entrance about half way through, I got to stand right next to the basket as they showed off their own dunking skills.

The two new banners for the Women's team.

The Men's Basketball team entrance.

The highlight of my night, as a dance team member, was being a part of the annual dance off. It was Men’s Basketball and the Dance Team vs. Women’s Basketball and the Cheerleaders. The Women’s team went first with a mix of Flawless, This is How We Do It, and Anaconda. We followed up with a mix of Soulja Boy, Jerk, Teach Me How to Dougie, and OG Bobby Johnson. While it was unclear who the winner was, I’m pretty sure we won the crowd’s vote! Whether you’re a part of the action or not, Ram Town is an event you definitely don’t want to miss on campus!