Adriana Apana ’27
Dancing since I was 8 years old, I always knew I wanted to further develop my craft throughout college. The Pomona College Dance Department has given me so many new and exciting opportunities. I’ve been able to take movement classes such as Advanced Ballet to maintain my technique and analysis classes such as Human Anatomy and Kinesiology.
One thing I love about the dance program is how it is combined with Scripps College and how we can take dance courses there. One class that I will always appreciate is Advanced Contemporary with visiting professor Waeli Wang. It was my first dance class in college, and on top of learning history, it opened my dance world by teaching me so much more about movement quality, textures, and combining styles like house and capoeira. Moving in ways I never had before, it was a chance to explore a new style of dance, which is exactly what I had hoped to pursue and continue throughout college.
In the fall, there is also the combined Pomona and Scripps show, In the Works! I’ve been a part of many different pieces and have had the opportunity to work with other dancers throughout the Claremont Colleges. Rehearsing the entire semester and seeing pieces go from beginning to stage-ready is so rewarding, and it’s fun to cheer and watch everyone perform. In the spring there are also the Scripps and Pomona shows. This semester, I have the privilege of performing in a reworked piece, “Shifting Consciously” by Peter Chu, with my old professor Waeli Wang as a rehearsal coordinator!
These experiences have really helped me create community. Some of my most sincere, lifelong connections have been made through the dance community here at the Claremont Colleges, which I am so incredibly grateful for. It’s never felt competitive, but always fun and collaborative, which is why we all dance in the first place!