Hear from Sasha Stanley ’27, president of the university’s first predominantly Black, student-run dance team, on the way her organization reflects Elon’s commitment to inclusive excellence.
The president of Divine Embers, Elon University’s first predominantly Black, student-run dance team, shares details about her club in the latest episode of “Feature Phoenix,” a video series that showcases student organizations that build welcoming communities for anyone on campus.
Episode 15 of “Feature Phoenix” introduces Sasha Stanley ’27, a business analytics and entrepreneurship & innovation major from Atlanta, Georgia, who serves as president of the dance team.
Founded in 2023, Divine Embers provides a space for students to feel comfortable expressing themselves through dance and service. The organization also shows appreciation and acknowledges historically Black traditions, including the introduction to campus of majorette-style dance, a mix of genres ranging from hip-hop, kick lines, jazz and more.
While majorette-style dance is most commonly associated with historically Black colleges and universities, its popularity in recent years has led to the establishment of dance troupes at predominantly white institutions of higher education.
Stanley said her organization strives to grow Elon’s diverse dance community and aims to welcome members of all backgrounds to learn the energetic styles of dance for which the club is known on campus.
“We don’t want to limit ourselves to being seen as just a ‘Black majorette team,’” she said.
Contact information, officers and the organization’s constitution can all be found on Phoenix Connect. Divine Embers also posts about auditions, performance, and more on its Instagram account.
Feature Phoenix is a bimonthly video feature of clubs and organizations of different sizes that bring together Elon University students around a range of topics. Find the newest video on the Inclusive Excellence website and visit the Elon University YouTube page for past episodes.