Dance Major from April 2025
Looking back on my BYU experience, I’m filled with gratitude for the countless opportunities that have helped me grow into someone ready to make a difference in the world. With a goal of becoming a physical therapist, I initially struggled to know what the right major would be for me. When I discovered BYU’s Dance program and its mission to integrate body, mind, and spirit, I knew I had found where I belonged. Through this department, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the body’s incredible capabilities, both in movement and creation. Studying science alongside dance gave me a unique opportunity to connect academic learning with physical embodiment—applying anatomy, kinesiology, and physiology directly through movement.
I’ve had the privilege of performing with dancEnsemble and Kinnect, as well as in various department productions. I never imagined I’d be able to keep dancing in college, but BYU made that dream possible. One of my most meaningful experiences has been helping start the Strong Youth Project, a research group dedicated to improving the youth athlete experience. Through this, and through collaborations with the Dance, Psychology, and Exercise Science Departments, I’ve developed a passion for research and innovation in movement and health. My gerontology minor also took me to St. George, where I helped with health screenings at the Huntsman World Senior Games. That experience forever changed the way I view aging and reminded me that staying active physically and mentally is key to a long, vibrant life. I am forever thankful for BYU—for the professors who supported me, the peers who inspired me, and the experiences that shaped me. As I begin my Doctorate of Physical Therapy this May, I’m excited to carry these lessons and memories with me, knowing BYU prepared me to serve, heal, and uplift others through service and movement.
—Callie Rae Floyd, Dance BA