Arts and Entertainment
Dancers brought HEAT to Student Dance Showcase
By Sade Oyalowo ’14
April 19, 2012
Fans of hip-hop, tap, jazz and contemporary dance were treated to a wonderful assortment of these styles this Sunday night at 7 p.m. in the Dance Studio during the annual Student Choreography Showcase, sponsored by the Student Dance Alliance (SDA). The group’s goal is to bring together dancers of different levels on campus and give them the opportunity to take classes and perform.
The night began with a performance by HEAT. They revved up the audience with their first dance to “Rack City” by Tyga that included an impressive freestyle portion by Rico Welch ’14 and Mike Reyes ’14. HEAT’s performance consisted of high energy with tons of variation, attitude and complex moves, revealing that the group is capable of much more than the “standard” hip-hop moves. One of their dances, to Drake’s “Take Care,” resembled a more fluid and African feel as opposed to the hard hitting movements of their hip-hop. The hip-hop troupe performed their usual set which included dances to “Look At Me Now” by Chris Brown, “Party Rock Anthem” by LMFAO and “Ni**as In Paris” by Jay-Z and Kanye West.
Next, choreographed by Andraya Cole ’14, students flawlessly performed a contemporary dance with passion and emotion. The dance embodied a fluid, energetic mix of ballet and modern dance, with a significant amount of creative floorwork. This piece illustrated the amazing strength and flexibility of the dancers, who clearly seemed to be enjoying themselves. A cute and fun piece, choreographed by Minou Clark ’14, shortly followed. Clark ’14 and Liza Strauss ’15 performed to Beyonce’s “Love on Top” and impressed the crowd with their energy and theatric hip-hop/pop movements.
Immediate applause followed after a quartet of tap dancers performed, which entailed intricate footwork and smooth movements. Afterwards, HEAT members Emma Leeds ’12, Minou Clark ’14, Sade Oyalowo ’14, Carrie Senft ’12, Sarah Sidford ’13 and Dyllon Young ’15 performed a risqué piece to Rihanna’s “Cockiness,” which resulted in a half-naked Young by the end of the dance.
Providing a cultural balance, the show incorporated Merengue, Bachata, Rumba and Tango dances from Tropical Sol, choreographed by Sarah Forbes ’14 and Alex Snow ’14. Danced with incredible energy and emotional maturity, Tropical Sol awed the audience with their hot, Latin ballroom moves.
The Student Choreography Showcase was delightful, showcasing a colorful blend of unique dance styles. This 45-minute performance cultivated enthusiastic catcalls and shouts from the audience by the end of the night as the final lights dimmed.