Grace Han, Special to The Denisonian—
This year’s World of Dance student showcase is a little different––it honors and celebrates 50 years of hip-hop.
Dhadkan Dance Crew, the Vietnamese Student Association, Denison K-pop Dance Group, Afro-Spice Dance Team, and IDM Dance Crew all took the stage on Saturday Evening.
Here’s a closer look at the moments leading up to the performance:
Wednesday at 7:12 PM, 72 Hours Until the Show
Bright overhead lights blurrily reflect off the glazed hardwood floors of the Mitchell Center multipurpose room. IDM Dance Crew members Fallon Brackley ‘25 and Sodahny Sip ‘25 walk in with protein smoothies to find five fellow crew members practicing in front of the mirrors.
The music mix turns on and without saying a word, everyone starts practicing the dance in unison.Once the dancers finish running the piece, they disperse to grab water and collapse to the ground for a breather. You couldn’t tell by their confident and nonchalant faces, but each run-through takes immense effort, energy, and power. The showcase features a wide variety of dance styles from across the globe. As the only hip-hop dance group performing, IDM members feel pressure to show out for the art form they have dedicated their organization to.
“The pressure is on… and we’re pulling through,” says Jailena Almonte ‘25 while discussing how it was IDM’s idea to advertise this year’s show as a celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
The dancers feel a mixture of nervousness and excitement for the upcoming performance––but mainly excitement.
Thursday at 5:55 PM, 50 Hours Until the Show
The following day, the multipurpose room is occupied by a different dance crew: Afro-Spice.
Dance team members stand around a long sheet of yellow patterned fabric as their Vice President, Yamilett Lopez ‘25, measures and cuts it to fit each dancer’s torso. Their organization regularly hand-makes tops for their performances.
The dancers mark through movements they will be performing on Saturday. While student-athletes walk in and out of the studio space, the dancers stay focused on practicing their timing and fast, intricate footwork.Dance team choreographer, Ashlee Salmon ‘26, holds high expectations for her fellow dancers: if you don’t know the choreography well enough, you won’t be performing it onstage.
“Ain’t shit gettin’ passed me,” Salmon jokes to the group.
Saturday at 4:35 PM, 3 Hours Until the Show
The five participating dance organizations have been rehearsing in the Michael D.Eisner Center’s Burke Recital Hall since 1:30 PM.
The air is charged with high energy and anticipation for the fast-approaching show. Under the direction of the MC, Juan Pablo (J.P.) Zuluaga ‘24, dancers are given three minutes to practice their bow sequence. Soon after, a full run-through of the show begins.
Saturday at 7:28 PM, 2 Minutes Until the Show
The dancers have brought in a full house of psyched audience members. J.P. walks on stage and an outpour of cheering fills the performance hall. A collaborative piece choreographed by all the organizations opens the production. This is followed by a series of 10-minute-long dances made by each organization featuring solos, duets, and group pieces. Singing and shouting makes the music hard to hear throughout the entire show.
Saturday at 8:32 PM, 2 Minutes After the Show
The show concludes and audience members gather in the hallway to greet dancers with love, flowers, and hugs. Masses of students ascend the stairs to the academic quad to grab food and go to bed––or to get ready for a Saturday night out.