Deep End: Meaghan Lenihan

One of SUNY New Paltz’s newest cardio hip-hop dance instructors, second-year geology major Meaghan Lenihan is taking the AWC by storm. Juggling teaching classes twice a week and balancing a hefty schedule of demanding undergrad classes, Lenihan does it all. 

Enrolling in dance classes at a young age has allowed for Lenihan to have a deep understanding of the craft of dancing. 

“I first started when I was nine and I did hip-hop, ballet, jazz and lyrical,” Lenihan reflected. She persevered in her classes and years later decided to join her high school’s kickline. 

“I wanted to be involved in school and I liked dancing and that club looked the most fun,” Lenihan said. “There were shows, and it felt like being on a sports team but not exactly doing a sport. It was fun.” 

Now, during her college experience she’s looked for outlets to keep up with her passion for dancing. Last month, she was a part of a showcase on campus at Studley Theater. The showcase, hosted by the New Paltz Dance Association, featured various styles of dancing numbers. Lenihan was involved with the burlesque group. 

She has found a way to tap into her creativity and earn some money while doing it, as she teaches cardio hip-hop classes every Wednesday and Thursday at 6:00 p.m. in the AWC. Lenihan describes her class as “high energy cardio based dancing with a great soundtrack.” 

I’ve been fortunate enough to attend some of her classes and have not been disappointed. 

One of SUNY New Paltz’s newest cardio hip-hop dance instructors, second-year geology major Meaghan Lenihan is taking the AWC by storm. Juggling teaching classes twice a week and balancing a hefty schedule of demanding undergrad classes, Lenihan does it all. 

Enrolling in dance classes at a young age has allowed for Lenihan to have a deep understanding of the craft of dancing. 

“I first started when I was nine and I did hip-hop, ballet, jazz and lyrical,” Lenihan reflected. She persevered in her classes and years later decided to join her high school’s kickline. 

“I wanted to be involved in school and I liked dancing and that club looked the most fun,” Lenihan said. “There were shows, and it felt like being on a sports team but not exactly doing a sport. It was fun.” 

Now, during her college experience she’s looked for outlets to keep up with her passion for dancing. Last month, she was a part of a showcase on campus at Studley Theater. The showcase, hosted by the New Paltz Dance Association, featured various styles of dancing numbers. Lenihan was involved with the burlesque group. 

She has found a way to tap into her creativity and earn some money while doing it, as she teaches cardio hip-hop classes every Wednesday and Thursday at 6:00 p.m. in the AWC. Lenihan describes her class as “high energy cardio based dancing with a great soundtrack.” 

I’ve been fortunate enough to attend some of her classes and have not been disappointed. You don’t want to miss out!

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About Samantha Salerno 79 Articles
Samantha (Sam) Salerno is a third-year performing arts major who has a passion for writing. This is her third semester on The Oracle. She spent the majority of her summer working for the publication, Fire Island News. You can reach her by emailing salernos2@newpaltz.edu.