SU student troupe Orange Pulse celebrates 25 years dancing for philanthropy
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For some dancers, dance can be a competition. For members of Orange Pulse, it’s a way to give back and build community.
“I think it’s a really inclusive space where anyone is welcome,” Orange Pulse president and senior Molly Bailen said. “We’re all here for the same reason.”
The Syracuse University student-run dance organization has grown from approximately 30 members to 135 since Bailen joined as a freshman in 2022. As Orange Pulse celebrates its 25-year anniversary this school year, Bailen says its growth reflects the organization’s commitment to making dance accessible to anyone.
In 2002, Orange Pulse was founded by SU students who wanted a dance community where they felt welcome, Bailen said. Instead of only connecting with dancers on SU’s campus, the founders sought to have an impact beyond through local charities and nonprofits.
Unlike many dance organizations on campus, Orange Pulse doesn’t hold auditions. Instead, it offers beginner, intermediate and advanced classes, allowing students of all levels of experience and interest to participate. Classes include all styles of dance including contemporary, jazz and more. There’s even an adapted class called Open Movement, which is designed to make dance accessible to people with disabilities and dancers of all experience levels.
For Bailen, who’s served on the organization’s executive board for the past three years, said the welcoming environment is central to Orange Pulse’s identity. She joined to keep dancing in her life after being a serious dancer since childhood.
“The dance community can be very toxic at times,” Bailen said. “And we prioritize being a place where people can come, have fun, dance and engage with new people, instead of being pitted against each other.”
Other executive board members, like the club’s vice president Mya Leonforte, said the organization offered a different experience from the competitive dance environment she grew up with. That’s why Leonforte joined her freshman year. Having danced competitively since she was 10, Leonforte said dance started to feel like a job. But joining Orange Pulse gave her the opportunity to dance simply because she enjoyed it.
“It’s a lot more laid back,” she said. “We’re just doing it because we love it.”
Orange Pulse members practice their choreography during a rehearsal. This year, the organization will donate all of its event proceeds to The Arts Project Syracuse. Calvin Wood | Staff Photographer
Orange Pulse’s influence expands beyond SU’s campus. All the money made from showcases and events goes to a charity of the executive board’s choosing. This school year, the funds go to The Arts Project Syracuse, an organization that brings arts education to children in the area. Members of Orange Pulse partner with The Arts Project Syracuse to teach dance classes every Friday at locations like the YMCA of Central New York and Boys & Girls Clubs of Syracuse.
The impact of these classes extends beyond teaching dance. Sophomore Arianna Schuman, Orange Pulse’s DEIA chair, said some of the children even cried when members had to leave after spending time with them.
The partnership between Orange Pulse and The Arts Project Syracuse allows members to share their passion for dance beyond campus while supporting access to arts education. Leonforte said one of the most rewarding parts of her involvement has been seeing the impact of that work firsthand.
Last year, Orange Pulse raised more than $4,000 for TAPS and donated approximately $500 worth of toys through its holiday toy drive, Leonforte said.
Of all her memories from Orange Pulse, Leonforte’s favorite is from junior year, when she first met the children the toys were going to. At the time, Leonforte was fundraising chair. Teaching and spending time with them helped her see the impact Orange Pulse could have outside of the university.
The organization’s growth has also created new opportunities for its members. With over 100 dancers now, Orange Pulse has expanded the number of classes it offers and is planning a
two-night spring showcase for the first time instead of its typical one night performance, Bailen said.
Co-events chair Angelina Ret said managing an organization of over 100 dancers, like Orange Pulse, requires coordinating schedules, responsibilities and events while making sure members feel included. She wants Orange Pulse to remain a place where students can enjoy dance without feeling pressured.
“We just want to make sure everyone knows that dance is about having fun rather than being stressed out,” Ret said.
For Schuman, Orange Pulse has also presented the opportunity to continue pursuing a passion she developed as a child. She said the organization’s supportive environment has helped her feel comfortable both dancing and choreographing.
Schuman hopes Orange Pulse’s legacy will remind students they don’t have to abandon their interests when they get older.
“I hope that at least behind the idea that you’re not too old to continue your passions and continue doing what you love,” Schuman said.
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As Orange Pulse looks toward its next generation of dancers, members said they hope students will see the organization as an opportunity to find friends, explore dance and contribute to the Syracuse community.
Bailen’s goal is for students to leave Orange Pulse with joyful memories and relationships that last beyond their time at Syracuse.
“I want people to see Orange Pulse, hear of Orange Pulse and be excited by what we’re doing and want to be a part of it,” Bailen said.
