Lesley Kevin Pfeifer woke up on an October morning of his freshman year and realized he had drastically overslept. He arrived 10 minutes late for his audition for the One World Dance troupe. To his surprise, he walked in to find himself one of only two men in a room full of nearly 30 women.

“I remember thinking, ‘Wait, is this a girls’ group?’” Pfeifer said.

Now the junior information, management and technology major is still dancing for One World. The troupe is comprised of Syracuse University students and focuses on traditional African tribal and modern dances.

Pfeifer moved to the United States from Ghana three years ago to come to SU. While participating in the Summer Start program, he met other dancers already in One World who encouraged him to join.

Back in Ghana, Pfeifer danced, but was not affiliated with a group. He and his friends would compete with each other and show off the moves they had been working on, he said.

“Dancing in general is just like an escape to happiness,” Pfeifer said. “I just do whatever I feel like. When I was a kid, I always imitated Michael Jackson and other dancers, and that’s how I started loving the art of dance.”

Pfeifer explained that all the dancers have an equal role in choreographing the routines. If a dancer has an idea for a move or saw something in a YouTube video they liked, Pfeifer explained, it’s their job to bring it up to the group and show it off.

One of Pfeifer’s favorite memories with the group was when he was a freshman and the group’s president decided to have him wear just tights and no shirt for the very first performance. Pfeifer said although he originally didn’t want to wear the tights, he can look back on the experience and laugh.

Now about to enter his senior year, Pfeifer said he wants to join the groups executive board in order to help promote African culture on campus.

He also said that after he graduates, he wants to continue dancing, as it’s a huge part of who he is.

Said Pfeifer: “I think dancing is something that will never leave us — it’s our food and water.”

Published on April 11, 2016 at 12:01 am

Contact: emmichae@syr.edu