The low buzz of murmurs ripples through Bailey Hall as the lights begin to fade. Backstage, it’s a blur of quick footsteps and last-minute stretches as dancers rush into position. The music hums to life, soft echoes bouncing off the walls as the curtains break apart. The sound of movement continues until suddenly, the spotlight is on center stage. Music erupts from the speakers, and dancers flood the stage, their rhythmic steps sealing each movement and claiming the night as their own.
While Cornell has become home to countless dance groups over the years, BreakFree sets itself apart — not just as a club, but as a space where dance becomes identity, and the stage feels like home. Founded in 2006, the student-run, open-style dance crew has become a defining presence in Cornell’s dance scene, driven by a mission to ignite passion within its community. Starting as a small initiative offering free community workshops, the club has grown into one of the University’s most dynamic and accomplished performance groups.
At its core, BreakFree is guided by its mission to “spread dance experience to the community at any capacity,” Hannah Mekky ’26, the club’s co-president, said. “Dance brings people together, and we want to make sure we connect back to our roots and host these open workshops.” That commitment to inclusivity still defines the group today, where they hold weekly workshops ranging from absolute beginner sessions to advanced choreography classes, welcoming dancers of all levels to their studio.
Since its establishment, BreakFree has expanded from a workshop space to a competitive force. In December 2025, the team competed at World of Dance in Rhode Island, taking home first place in the collegiate division and second place overall in the team division. For a student-run organization balancing academics alongside rehearsals and creative production, these accolades mark the team’s strong mastery in their technical prowess and artistic direction.
Caitlin Lee ’27, BreakFree’s other co-president, said that “competing helps us further our love of dance. We’ve gone to competitions and left feeling really inspired, thinking about how we can grow from our experiences and how we can push our foundations and creativity to their limits.”
This balance between artistry and creative experimentation lies at the heart of BreakFree’s open-style dance approach. Rather than sticking to a single genre, the group draws from a wide range of dance foundations that highlight the diverse backgrounds and training of its members. “We allow each person to create their own artistic vision, and then we’ll piece it all together later. We want our members to have as much flexibility as possible to showcase their story and identity,” Lee commented.
This year alone, 31 members contributed original choreography for their 18th annual showcase, The Haunting. Set in a conceptual haunted house, the performance follows the trapped dancers as they tell the story of both breaking free from the “escape room-esque” stage and discovering what they’re breaking free from.
The showcase started strong with a high-energy, choreographed rendition of "Dracula" by Tame Impala, featuring darker, more intense tones that immediately established the ‘haunting’ atmosphere. The sharpness of the dancers' movements dominated the stage, creating a sense of tension and unease as the show progressed through different fears, each representing a unique catalog of musical genres. The “Fear of Losing Control,” inspired by the television series, Severance, explored vulnerability and introspection, using songs like "Human" and "New Person Same Old Mistakes" to show the struggle with identity in a competitive university setting. The “Fear of Starting Anew” brought in alumni united under a synchronized beat to express their future on the stage. The closing piece, “Pompeii,” served as a powerful finale, bringing together the entire dance crew across multiple choreographic styles into a large, cinematic ending as they broke free from the haunting. The immersive storytelling captured the audience’s attention, bringing them into the narrative of BreakFree’s origins and mission through original choreographies that expressed the team’s shared passion for dance.
While BreakFree’s dedication to bringing its creativity to life guides its dance journey, the close-knit nature of its members furthers their sense of community. Alumni often make appearances at practice, offering technical guidance and support. This year’s showcase also marked the club’s 20th anniversary, which brought more than 20 alumni back to campus to dance with the team again. “They hype us up, they inspire us, but they also remind us that we’re part of something that lasts far beyond our time here. Once you’re on BreakFree, it’s like a family for life.” Mekky said.
The club aims to foster this kind of community among Cornell students with their workshops and collaborations with other dance clubs. Most members are part of other dance groups at Cornell, a testament to BreakFree’s role in the larger ecosystem of student creativity. “We’ve been very fortunate to have a great turnout at our workshops and to be able to further our connections with the community even more. Speaking for myself, I’ve met so many amazing people at these workshops,” Mekky said. “At the end of the day, we are a student organization rooted in the University.”
For incoming students, this collaborative culture encourages students to get involved. As part of the Dancers Alliance at Cornell, BreakFree aims to bridge different dance organizations on campus together through dance festivals and showcases at events like ClubFest, where performances from a diverse range of dance clubs collaborate on stage. “That moment I saw them perform as a freshman, that’s when I knew I wanted to audition for BreakFree,” Lee recounted.
Despite its competitive success and glowing reputation, BreakFree remains grounded in its motto of dancing as a means of inspiration and connection. Its founding principle, “Dance to Inspire,” is not simply a motto but a philosophy that guides the group’s journey, from workshops to rehearsals to the stage.
Ultimately, what BreakFree aims to convey to its members and the greater Cornell community is not just technical excellence, but a feeling. “I just want the audience to experience our journey with us and leave feeling inspired by our work,” Mekky said. “To see what we’ve created and feel the energy and effort we put into it. Our team is crazy talented, and we really want everyone to be able to see and appreciate that.”
As the lights dim in Bailey Hall, BreakFree continues to evolve with every workshop, rehearsal and showcase. In an ever-changing space of diversity and unique creative visions, the team’s passion, love and energy for dance are unshakeable constants at Cornell.
Stefanie Chen is a sophomore in the College of Human Ecology. She is a staff writer for the Lifestyle department and can be reached at schen@cornellsun.com.
