Student: Brittany Good
Brittany Good is dancing through life with passion in her feet.
“She is dependable, collegial and kind to everyone,” said Dr. Marissa Nesbit, assistant professor and dance program coordinator at East Carolina University.
Good is a junior at ECU double majoring in dance education and foreign language and literature with a concentration in Hispanic studies.
She has been dancing since she was 4 years old and has never lost interest through the years.
“It’s just something I’ve always been passionate about. Even when it’s hard, it’s the best part of my week,” Good said.
She said being a part of the dance program at ECU feels like family.
“It’s not a competition about who is going to get cast, we are all supporting one another and lifting each other up to be better,” Good said.
In one of her dance classes, Good is able to put her teaching skills to use. Every Thursday the class goes to Wahl-Coates Elementary School and teaches first graders dance lessons.
“It is a great experience because we aren’t just learning about what it means to be an elementary dance teacher, but we are getting the chance to actually be one,” Good said.
Outside of her regular classes, Good has been a co-coordinator for Lights Up! since 2017. Lights Up! is a student-run show for dance and musical theatre students to make and perform their own works of art. Good also teaches hip-hop and contemporary dance classes to 4- and 5-year-old children at Dance Arts of Rocky Mount.
“I love getting the chance to teach younger children about dance and see them enjoy what they are doing week after week,” Good said.
Dance isn’t Good’s only area of expertise. Foreign language has also captivated her interest, leading her to double major in foreign language and literature with a concentration in Spanish. Good started learning Spanish when she was in the third grade and continues to immerse herself in the language and culture.
This past summer, she went on a study abroad trip with ECU to Granada, Spain that sealed the deal on her wanting to pursue a degree in Spanish.
“It was one the best experiences I’ll ever have,” Good said.
She hopes to one day go back to Spain and teach dance classes for at least a year.
Good is also involved in on-campus organizations, one of which she is a founding member — Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority. She is also a member of Sigma Delta Pi, the Spanish Honors Society, East Carolina Dance Association and East Carolina Dance Educators.
Good plans to teach dance classes in public high schools once she graduates but says she loves being a Pirate.
“I just love it. Being here has been really special,” Good said.
What is something cool about ECU that you wish you knew during your first year?: The different resources offered here to students at no additional cost. If anyone needs help writing a paper, practicing their speaking skills, or just needs some support through the semester, ECU has programs and offices to help with just about anything.
STATISTICS
College: College of Fine Arts and Communications and the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
Major: Dance Education and Foreign Language and Literature with a concentration in Hispanic Studies
Age: 20
Classification/Year:
Junior/Class of 2020
Hometown: Lewisville, NC
Hobbies/interests: Dance, watching football
Clubs and Organizations: East Carolina Dance Association, Alpha Gamma Delta
FAVORITES
Favorite hangout: Coffee shops
Favorite place on campus: Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium
Favorite place to eat: Waffle House, Cookout and Moe’s
Favorite class: Jazz Dance
Professor who influenced you the most: Marissa Nesbit
Favorite TV show: “Handmaid’s Tale”
Favorite band/musician: Sam Smith
Favorite movie: “Titanic”
Favorite website: Netflix
MOTIVATIONS
Dream job:
Teaching dance in Spain
The one thing you cannot live without: Chocolate
Role models: My parents
Your words to live by: I always tell myself to never let an opportunity go to waste just because you are afraid of what could go wrong.
What advice do you have for other students?: Find clubs, organizations or other things at ECU that you enjoy! Being in college is so much better when you have different events to look forward to during the week.