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Juggling biology labs, orientation leading and pirouettes is no easy feat — but senior Emma Lang has perfected the art in her final dance at GW.
I met Lang, who majors in biology and dance, at Point Chaud to learn how she balances her role as co-president of Balance: The GW Dance Group, with cross-school studies that range from contemporary dance to research in an ant lab.
Over the course of our conversation, Lang — soft-spoken and smiling — described how her varied interests have both diverged and intertwined over the years, culminating in a senior thesis that merges her scientific and artistic pursuits: a dance inspired by ant movements. Here’s what she had to say.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Cavanaugh: Can you tell me a little bit about your position in Balance?
Lang: I’m one of the co-presidents, the other one being Delaney Haas. We’re helping facilitate our very large e-board. Balance is the largest dance org on campus — over 100 people are in our performance, and then there’s even more people who come to all of our classes and other things that we do around campus.
Cavanaugh: How did you first get involved with Balance?
Lang: I’m a big GW event girl, so I was always on Engage, looking for different clubs and events. I’ve been dancing my whole life. I’m a dance major, but the dance major here is a very modern, post-modern space, and I was like, “I want to still be able to do my ballet or jazz,” and stuff. So I was looking for opportunities that gave me that, and Balance is open to anyone. Everyone that auditions for the show gets into the show. It’s very inclusive. I found it on Engage and then followed it on Instagram, and I was like, “I’m gonna be a part of this.” I knew it was gonna be one of my biggest things at GW as soon as I saw it.
Cavanaugh: What would you say it’s like to be studying two disciplines as varied as biology and dance?
Lang: I’m always busy, I have to say, because there’s no overlap. But I think it’s exciting to just immediately switch from like — I had Biology of Horticulture this morning, and then I have my dance-taking class later today. I think it’s nice to have different things you’re working on. And then my upcoming thesis, which recently got approved, I’m combining the movement of dance with ants. I work in an ant lab, too. So I’m gonna research how ants interact with each other and movement style and creating a dance form that we’re gonna perform as part of the NEXT Festival.
Cavanaugh: How would you say that being involved with Balance has shaped your experience at GW? What do you think you’ve learned, or what new perspectives have you gained?
Lang: You get to audition for any styles that you want. I think it’s fun how people are always pushing themselves outside of their comfort zones, going to different classes, trying out different styles. I love learning from other people. It’s like, you were at the same dance studio your whole life, you weren’t necessarily learning different things. Here everyone’s from all over — I’m from Alabama — so getting to learn from other people here and everything. So it’s just fun to see what other people bring to the table and just learning as much as I can from everyone around me. I think it’s very important.
Cavanaugh: Do you have any stories from when you were an orientation leader that you think exemplify your experience in this job?
Lang: One of the things that they had there, which I was the “vibe curator” for, was silent disco. So everyone put on their little headphones and there was just dancing. I know it can be intimidating, but I was being paid to be silly, so I was there just jumping around, forcing everyone to move. I was in people’s faces, like getting everyone — I would stare at someone, point at them until they would start dancing. I was just like, “I’m doing it. We’re creating a community right now, and everyone’s gonna be a part of it.”
I see people that were in that all the time, and they’ll wave to me, but I’m hoping that I’m a friendly face, and they know that it’s okay to have fun, and no one’s gonna judge them. It’s supposed to be fun.
Cavanaugh: How did you become interested in biology?
Lang: My concentration is Ecology, Evolution and the Environment, so not doctor like other people. One of the reasons I chose GW was because I was selected into the Women’s Leadership Program in the Science, Health and Medicine cohort, and that’s where we did a project on butterflies and other stuff, and I was like, “This is so fun.” I really enjoyed the second semester of biology. But I’ve always been a fan of going to National Parks and doing stuff like junior ranger programs — there’s no age limit, so I still be doing them — but it’s fun to learn about a place as much as you can. Nature’s always been a fun thing for me to explore.
Cavanaugh: Who or what would you say inspires you the most in your day-to-day life at GW?
Lang: All of my friends, the people that I’m around are really my inspiration for anything. I’m working on a dance right now in the dance department. The entire thing is based on memories and connection, so every time I speak to someone and they’re reminiscing something from earlier in our time at GW, I’m like, “That was a beautiful moment that inspired me to create something.” Everyone’s so awesome, and I’m so happy that I’ve been able to meet as many people as I have through Balance and dance in general at GW.
