A chronic illness like pan-colitis is hard enough for anyone to deal with, much less a dancer who relies on strength and focus on physical skills. But one dance major found courage and purpose in the studio, enough for her to deepen her resolve to dance and to look forward to her future with optimism and hope.

Teresa Marchand is a 20-something social dancer who learned many folk forms as she grew up among people who did folk dance socially. Taking up swing dance as an adult, she has found it connects her to others, both locally and globally.