Let me begin with a confession: last Thursday’s Joss Arnott Dance double bill was the first dance show I have ever reviewed in Cambridge. Needless to say, I am no dance expert. My dancing ability begins and ends with grooving to laptop music in the privacy of my room (sad, I know) and shifting awkwardly to the beat during May Balls and the like.

But watching the dancers on stage last week made me realise two things: firstly, how intellectually stimulating a performance relying almost purely on physical movement can be. Secondly, that dance theatre is highly underrated here in Cambridge.

The reasons for this are obvious. The logistical challenges posed by dance shows, and the need for performers who are already of a high standard, would naturally deter most people in a university that doesn’t offer degrees in performing arts.

Nonetheless, there are a variety of dance styles on offer at the University: ballet, contemporary dance, Latin, many of which produce an annual show. The Cambridge University Ballet Club, for instance, performed Alice in Wonderland at the Mumford Theatre in February.

When in Cambridge, fail to seek and you shall not find. Be it acting, playing a sport, or getting involved in student journalism, those who don’t take the initiative often end up with almost nothing on their plates. The same can be said for dance.

Still, one cannot help but feel that more could be done to engage people in dance beyond the level of hopping to ‘Gangnam Style’ in the college bar. While most of these dance societies already offer classes for different ability groups, I wonder if more could be done to make the dance scene more open and inclusive.

A friend told me how she stopped attending ballet classes at the Cambridge University Ballet Club because she found the experience too intimidating. According to her, during the intermediate classes “you found girls with their legs up around their ears.” Others I have spoken to have described the ballroom and Latin dance communities here as “quite cliquey” and at times “a bit bitchy”.

Maybe we need more informal dance clubs here at the university, for those with an interest in dancing as a hobby, or who simply want to bond with like-minded people. After all, dance – intrinsic artistic value aside – is meant to be fun, relaxing and sociable.

Maybe I should ditch the books and get out more. Or, pick up dance – Salsa, maybe? – this term. If that doesn’t work out, I guess I’ll just turn to the next best thing: sticking to writing reviews and columns about it.