Happy Fourth of July! As we speak, the RA staff is working hard at decorating the dorms so that when students return from activity time today, they'll be surprised at the array of red, white, and blue that awaits them. But that's not the only celebration in store! Tonight students will again don their GHA t-shirts as we travel off-campus to enjoy America's favorite pastime: baseball.
On Friday, Salsa Magic instructors took the stage in Benedum Commons to show everyone some basic samba, merengue, and, of course, salsa moves. After learning basic steps as a large group, students paired off to learn more complicated combinations (and step on each other's toes!). After each dance, instructors Lee Smith and Kat Aguilar invited brave pairs onstage to demonstrate their skills to the crowd.
At the end of the session, the most confident bailarines got to strut their stuff onstage in a competition for free passes to a salsa convention in Washington D.C., where participants will get to meet and learn from some of the best salsa dancers in the world! Even students with two left feet got to enjoy the salsa at a salsa bar that included traditional tomato salsa, black bean and corn salsa, fruit salsa, and guacamole.
During the first lesson, students divided into two groups to learn their parts.
RAs John and Nikki impressed students and faculty alike with their enthusiastic dance moves.
Students watch their instructors intently for the next steps.
After an exhausting night of dancing, students woke up early the next morning to travel to Charleston to tour the Capitol building and the new West Virginia State Museum. After the recent death of beloved Senator Robert C. Byrd, students, faculty, and staff were all moved by the sight of his statue surrounded by flowers in the Capitol building.
After seeing the dome, students were led through the chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Then, they crossed the street to spend some time in the State Museum and Cultural Center.
In the State Museum, students were fascinated by the telephone operating board.
By 3pm, students boarded the buses for the drive back to Bethany, where they were greeted with a picnic dinner and a Media Monster inflatable movie screen on the green. When the sun went down, GHA enjoyed an outdoor viewing of "Clash of the Titans" while Assistant Academic Dean Robbie Brown passed out bags of popcorn.
Check back tomorrow for updates on the winner of tonight's baseball game!
--Lauren
