Sajaira Hudson stands in front of the mirror in the dance studio, listening to the song blaring from an iPhone’s speaker. Behind her, the newest recruits to NeXXus feel the music and test out the moves Hudson’s just taught.
This scene was the first glimpse of NeXXus’s open call, on September 17th in the Amsler Campus Center.
With the music, laughter, and low-pressure vibes filling the dance studio that night, attendees seemed to find it easy to enjoy themselves and let loose with one another. This welcoming energy is, according to Hudson, at the heart of what NeXXus is all about. “It’s something that, although it’s open to everyone, you can tell that people aren’t being masked. You don’t have to mask yourself in NeXXus. You don’t have to have a social guard up, because everyone is everyone and the more genuine you are, and the more vulnerable you are, and willing to be yourself, that is what we strive for.”
Hudson is the President of NeXXus Step Team at MCLA, and cares deeply about ensuring that it’s a welcoming place for everyone. “At the end of the day, we are all one chain link. One band. One sound.”
Step often gets lumped in as just another form of dance, but it’s a unique art form with deep cultural meaning. “Step comes from our African roots,” says Hudson. “It used to be a form of dance that a lot of people in Africa would perform, essentially to create bonds.” At its most basic, step is a combination of movements that create percussion with just a performer’s body. Combinations can be performed to music, or without it to highlight the body percussion. However, step performers, like those in NeXXus, have incorporated ideas from many other styles of dance and performance, creating a unique and fascinating blend of movements.
NeXXus has existed at MCLA since 2008, when it was introduced to give students access to a new form of dance different to what was being offered by the Dance Co. It has been on campus ever since, with only a short break during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During that time, NeXXus has served as both an outlet and a haven for MCLA students of all genders, races, ethnicities, and interests. The team is almost entirely student-led, with students creating choreography, running the social media, and getting the word out, but alums often come back to connect with the current team, teach old routines, and celebrate how far the team has come.
Hudson looks fondly on the team dynamic NeXXus fosters. “We are a very close-knit community. So, we are able to act goofy and funny around each other, but we all understand that we want to look our best. So, when it comes right down to it, we can perform and conduct ourselves with excellence.”
NeXXus hosts performances around campus, and throws a block party in the spring semester, but Hudson is hoping to expand NeXXus’s numbers, and opportunities. “If we have a really solid team, we can break off into two groups and do a dance-off at halftime at basketball games. If we have a showcase, that can be a whole thing. We can have flash mobs on campus with little snippets of what we do”.
Though their open call concluded on September 19th, NeXXus is recruiting new members all year round. Joining the team is not restricted by age, gender, race, or skill level. “All are welcome, and encouraged, to participate,” says Hudson. “NeXXus has fun. One thing we can do is we can step, and we can have fun. That’s what I want us to be remembered as. This is a really cool group. Anybody can join. Men, women, non-binary folks.”
Though step has its origins in Africa, she makes it clear that NeXXus wants anyone who brings the right vibes and enthusiasm, regardless of race. “I really want to push that. In the past, it’s only been seen as a woman of color’s place to be”.
What Hudson says about NeXXus is visible in the studio as they work through the routine. “NeXXus is a place for all students to come and learn a form of movement that is culturally significant to people on this campus and for everyone involved to feel confident to do anything. Whether its step, speaking in front of people, going to class. It’s giving them the confidence and the support that they need to do whatever they need to do outside of class.” As they step, each person in the mirror seems to stand up a little taller.
Interested in learning more about or joining NeXXus? Reach out to Sajaira Hudson or Arlene Theodore, or follow NeXXus on Instagram: @mcla.nexxus!
