Dance isn’t just an art form; it’s a way of communicating that stretches beyond the walls of a studio and can bridge language and cultures. Senior Meghan Bhanoo got to experience this sensation firsthand through three study abroad programs during her undergraduate career at Ohio State, as well as explore the intricacies of each destination.
Bhanoo, a dance and ecological engineering major, first participated in the Dance in Africa program in summer 2024, where she traveled to Ghana and learned about traditional Ghanaian dance and music while interacting with the community through university and organizational visits.
A particularly impactful moment for Bhanoo was working with BASICS International, a community organization that supports youth from Chorkor, the local fishing village, through after-school programs, education and the arts.
She also attended dance classes at the University of Ghana and trained alongside company members at the National Theatre of Ghana.
“Being in these spaces reshaped how I understand dance; it's not just as performance, but a living practice that connects people within Ghana and far beyond it,” she said.
During spring semester 2025, Bhanoo went on the Dance Barbados program, where the group took classes with students at various local studios and schools, exploring contemporary, street-style and Caribbean-inspired dance.
“Dancing in the open air made me more aware of how climate and environment shape the physical experience of movement. The heat, humidity and breeze changed how my body felt and made me feel more connected to the people I was dancing with; perhaps it was the solidarity of being sweaty together,” reflected Bhanoo.
Bhanoo was impacted by the community support and environment of the country, experiencing memorable interactions at Oistins Fish Market and at the Community College of Barbados.
Most recently, Bhanoo traveled on the Dance Brazil program during summer 2025. After studying dance and the Portuguese language on campus, all members of the class travel to Salvador, Bahia, Brazil to perform and study with Brazilian dance masters, tour the city and engage in cultural exchange with Brazilian dancers.
“Performing dance in schools, community centers and theaters around Brazil made this experience unforgettable. I loved connecting with people through movement and laughter, even when there was a language barrier,” she noted.
Through these experiences during her undergraduate career, Bhanoo has experienced the interconnectedness of the world, especially in a dance context, and will take the lessons she’s learned into whatever field she decides to pursue after her graduation in spring 2026.
“By mapping these experiences, I was able to see how movement lives beyond the studio. Dance showed up in streets, classrooms, theaters, beaches and sacred spaces, each shaped by its surrounding environment and community,” Bhanoo said.