Rhythm n Motion, colloquially referred to as “RnM,” is a Tri-Co dance company between Swarthmore, Haverford, and Bryn Mawr. Created in 2005, the group is rooted in dances from the African Diaspora, though it often includes other dance styles like jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary in their showcases.
Dancers of all levels are welcome. Though some of the members have been dancing since early childhood, dance hobbyists join as well. When asked about her experience auditioning for RnM, sophomore Addie Franklin ’27 said, “I was worried that coming to a dance department in a college was going to be, like, ‘I don’t know what I’m doing, I’m not as good as all these people here.’ But that wasn’t the case. I’m very grateful that a lot of people have seen the potential in me.”
The learning expands past the classroom and into rehearsals. Senior Natassia Lowe ’25 reflected on her freshman year, stating, “I really enjoyed the way that she [Dance Department Lecturer Bethany Formica Bender] wanted us to embrace exploring the space regardless of our experience as dancers.”
The diverse dance styles offered at Swarthmore strengthen students’ technique and performance skills for RnM showcases, adding to their choreographic vocabulary and understanding of each dance as a performing art. Senior Brenda Feregrino ’25 noted, “I’ve taken foundations of hip-hop techniques and other workshops at Swarthmore, and they’ve taught me more of a structure to [dance]. It’s given me the opportunity to get more creative and expressive with my dance. I’ve always been pretty expressive and creative in my own sense, but now it’s more refined. Especially at RnM, you always get pointers and tips from peers.”
Brenda added, “I’m very thankful for Mama Jeannine [Dance Department Senior Lecturer Jeannine Osayande] because our African dance classes bring [skills] for our opener.” The department gives dancers the tools to implement diverse styles into their choreography.
Many of the troupe’s members come from outside the dance department. Freshman Nikki Karugu ’28 highlighted, “Practices are a great way to have a separate community from school. I get to come in and do something I love.” Freshman Enjalai Baillie ’28 reflected on her history with dance: “Dancing, for me, always felt like a competition in which I could never win. Even when I was in a group piece, the people I danced with created so much tension amongst the group we could never truly enjoy dancing together, but here at Swat that has never been a problem.” In RnM, students don’t only dance together but are a true community.
Junior Gabby Nash ’26 explained, “We’re constantly together. It’s just a really good community to have because it has their [the company’s] interests outside of dance as well, so it’s always interesting to see what others are up to outside of the RnM space. We try our best to create an inclusive and exciting community so that you’re creating friendships, more than just people that just dance together.”
Like any dance company, auditions are challenging yet unusually encouraging. “I just remember how they were already cheering everyone on,” Freshman Elizabeth Johnston ’28 reminisced. “[It’s that] supportive energy. You can just feel how loving the group is. Having that energy to feed off of is just so powerful as a performer.”
That same supportive energy carries into rehearsals every Saturday from mid-morning to late afternoon, when, rotating between the three colleges, the members spend time together, not just as performers but also as friends.
Other members noted that support continues into their performances, from pen-pal cards to barking audiences. The enthusiasm for RnM even continues into the next semester. In effect, the group is a family.
So, what’s in store for RnM’s future? Whether it be through community workshops at Swarthmore, studio classes with professional companies, or establishing a stronger Tri-Co dance team, the troupe is focused on increasing community outreach.
As Lowe stated, “I hope RnM does expand a little bit more outside Swat, because while we are TriCo, we still have a majority of Swarthmore students. There are amazing dancers at Bryn Mawr and Haverford, so it would be absolutely crazy if we could also have those dancers on RnM and really elevate the team. And it would create more of this coalition of these different dance groups.”
Additionally, the Senior executive members reflected on their time in the company and what they hope to leave behind. “We always say we want to make sure we still have a presence in the TriCo, that’s the whole point,” senior Nzana Thilliot ’25 noted. “Staying to our true values, what we call the ‘Three-M’s’: movement, music, message, and staying within the African Diaspora. Also, how diverse our shows are, not just boxing in the African Diaspora to hip hop–it’s so much more expansive than that.”
With many members graduating next year, RnM is focused on in-group growth. Each semester, the newly joined members collaborate on a performance: the “Newbie Piece.” Though intimidating and difficult, the company views this as an opportunity to bond with the other members and connect with dance at an intimate level.
Outside of that piece, company members continually develop their own styles through consistent practices. Upperclassmen have observed this transformation, as Feregrino commented, “We see members start off in their shell, but they throw themselves out there in auditions and we [see] that [they are] gonna be dedicated to the craft. By the end of the semester we see a totally different dancer, with a totally different shine to them. And sometimes it takes one or two tryouts, but we love to see people come back for the second time and see that, even in a short period, they’ve improved.”
In conclusion, RnM encourages all students to audition, watch the dance shows, and join their community. In RnM, the interaction extends beyond rehearsals, it’s a space to fully embrace yourself and each other. Thilliot emphasized, “If your friend’s on the team, you know they dedicate so much time and work and they’re a student. Good friends support each other! You should want to see the fruits of their labor.”To see RnM in action, make sure to mark your calendar for their Spring Showcase on May 7 at 7 p.m. in the Lang Performing Arts Center auditorium.
