The Greek Amphitheater, one of LSU’s oldest open-air landmarks, became a stage for something new last week—a celebration of movement, identity and community through dance.

The Evolve Dance Experience, hosted by the National Society of Black Students in Art (NSBSA), brought together student-led dance teams from across campus, including the Fierce Felines and the Divine Sisters of Purple and Gold. But for organizers, it wasn’t just about putting on a show—it was about shifting what Black artistic presence looks like at LSU.

“This is our first dance showcase ever,” said NSBSA President Darnesha Binn. “We wanted to do something new, something different. Showcase art in a different form—dancing, of course.”

The event aimed to expand representation for Black students in the arts by creating a platform not only for dancers, but also for self-expression and confidence. NSBSA collaborated with other small organizations to give students an opportunity to perform in a space visible to the wider campus.

“These are other small organizations, like we are,” Binn said. “So collabing with them helps bring awareness to us. Different people didn’t even know we existed. Now that we have a platform we can bring other people and show that there are different varieties of dance.”

Fierce Felines member Janya Carriere said the group’s performance was especially emotional as they honored a graduating teammate with a farewell piece.

“It’s actually a goodbye piece for one of our Fierce Feline seniors; we are going to miss her,” Carriere said. “This is her choreographed dance actually, so this is our last performance with her.”

The showcase not only featured diverse styles like hip-hop, jazz, and majorette—it also gave performers a chance to grow more confident on stage.

“There were a couple of girls scared to do it because they didn’t know if they were going to do it real good,” Binn said. “You gain trust in yourself. It takes a lot of confidence to get on stage and stand up here and perform in front of people.”

NSBSA was founded in November 2023 to support Black artists in all forms—visual, performance, and beyond. Leaders say they hope to make Evolve an annual event and continue creating space for Black students in the LSU art community.

You can find more about NSBSA’s upcoming events on TigerLink or by following @nsbsalsu on Instagram.