NPDA Hosts 14th Annual Dance Underground

The New Paltz Dance Association (NPDA) brought two nights full of energy and excitement to Studley Theater this past weekend with their “Dance Underground” 2025 performance. 

The NPDA, along with guest groups SMACC, NOVA, Nachle and the New Paltz Dance Team, took the stage and gave it their all in a series of unforgettable routines. This year’s event marked 14 years of “Dance Underground,” which began in 2011 to replace “Fresh Dance.”

NPDA historian and secretary Lindsey Mills greeted a packed Studley Theater on Saturday, welcoming family, friends and New Paltz students alike to the night’s performances. Mills, a fourth-year early childhood education major, spoke about the club’s history and its impact for those involved. 

“NPDA was formed at SUNY New Paltz to keep the art of movement thriving within the college community. Our club is dedicated to providing students with opportunities to explore dance in a supportive and engaging environment,” Mills said.

NPDA is unlike any other dance organization on campus, as they have a no contract commitment for their members. Instead, NPDA aims to benefit its members, hosting student-run, free classes of different styles and workshops by outside professionals. The club also welcomes students of all dance backgrounds, regardless of their level of experience.

The audience buzzed with excitement as the lights dimmed for the first performance of the night: a haunting rendition of singer Kate Bush’s “Army Dreamers,” performed by members of NPDA. Dressed in dark greens, browns and tan, the dancers moved fluidly across the stage, conveying the tragedy and wistful nature of war through Bush’s classic, flowing soprano.

Among the night’s performances were a host of fellow guest dance organizations, including NOVA, who took the stage just after NPDA’s first two songs. NOVA is New Paltz’s first and only Korean-pop (K-Pop) dance organization, but certainly left their mark as they danced to a medley of K-pop songs. SMACC dance crew, also composed of NOVA members, later returned and combined elements of hip-hop, jazz funk and more K-Pop for an electrifying second performance. 

Other guest performers included Nachle, a Bollywood Fusion campus dance team, and the New Paltz Dance Team. Clad in flowing blues, Nachle brought the heat for a number of Bollywood hits, synced to perfection as they looked out to the crowd.

The night was filled with a number of pop hits, like “Femininomenon,” “Blow” and “On the Floor.” Slower, sentimental pieces like Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” left an air of reflection as this year’s “Dance Underground” came to a close.

As the curtains closed, NPDA co-presidents Alyssa Bush and Tessa Lord thanked their fellow dancers and those involved for their support and unwavering commitment over the years. “The dancers have worked incredibly hard,” third-year Lord said. “I feel blessed to know all of them and I’m sad to see so many of them graduate. Next year, I expect it to be [great] with all the amazing dancers we have in underclassmen.”

You can follow along with NPDA on Instagram @npdanceassociation.