The Black Student Association’s kickoff events for “BSA’s Soul Train” began with their first on-campus event, “Movin’ and Groovin’ Line Dancing Class,” to teach students choreography for line dancing.

This years’ BSA Week highlights the importance of culture, community and celebration for Black History Month. The line dancing took place at the Reng Student Union in Centennial Hall on Feb. 10, with an estimated attendance of 30 people. 

“Black History Month is a space for other communities and cultures to understand where we came from. It’s also a time for us as Black people to reflect on our past, where we are now, and what we can do to improve and change what’s happening in the world.” BSA President Cabrina Pope said. “That feels more important now than ever.”

Pope, a sophomore marketing major from Little Rock, said the line dancing event came about because it was a highly suggested idea for the BSA to incorporate into its BSA Week activities. 

“A lot of our students, whether at functions on campus or off-campus, always do line dances,” Pope said. “Some of the newer members don’t know them and some of the faculty and staff don’t either. So, I just think it’s a good way for them to learn, have a good time, and everybody likes dancing, so it’s fun.”

She said she hoped attendees not only walked away with knowledge of line dancing and choreography but also gained a better understanding of their culture and presence at A-State.

Karrissa Ragland, a first-year psychology major from Nashville, Arkansas, attended the event and said line dancing has always been a part of her life, through weddings, birthday parties, barbecues or any type of get-together.

“It’s always been a source of something good to bring us together,” Ragland said. “It’s a sense of unity.”

She also said when learning line dancing, it’s important to remember that learning choreography comes with time. 

“The more you do it, the more your body will learn the motions, so you just have to keep going at it and eventually you’ll have the muscle memory to remember,” Ragland said.

The event taught attendees the Shuffle Line dance, the Slow Wind, K-Wang, the Biker Shuffle, the Bunny Hop and the Tamia Line dance. 

Kearstin Vaughn, a senior interdisciplinary studies major with a medical emphasis from Little Rock, is the BSA’s vice president and director of special events. She was charge of creating and coordinating all BSA events.

She, with the help of Jordan Ashford, BSA community service chair, taught attendees line dancing. 

“Line dancing is sort of essential when attending an event that we throw and a lot of people tend to disconnect in that area of events due to them not knowing how to do the dances,” Vaughn said. “So, this will create an opportunity for them to learn!”

She said line dancing can create an opportunity for connection, specifically within Black culture.

“Line dancing as a part of our week for Black History Month holds a special place for dancing and congregating with one another at several functions,” Vaughn said. “We find community and knowing others can participate in the things that we enjoy.”

Pope shared similar sentiments.

“From a young age, at every family event, you learn how to do line dances. It’s a way to express ourselves and it brings our families and communities together,” Pope said. “Even if you don’t know the people around you, once a line dance comes on, everybody gets up and joins in.”

Pope said with BSA’s recent growth, the organization will be able to put on larger events and gain more funding to continue hosting major events on campus.

The 2025 BSA week will end Thursday with its final event, “Get Down on a Night of Rhythm and Talent,” at the Reng Student Union auditorium at 6:30 p.m.

Categories: News