On Saturday, Dec. 4, Robsham Theater was abuzz with activity and anticipation for the second and final showcase of Boston College’s Week of Dance. A culmination of an intense week of workshops and rehearsals, the performances exhibited the talents of BC’s numerous student dance groups.
Fuego del Corazón kicked the performances off with an energetic and electrifying performance to a medley featuring “The Rhythm of the Night” by Corona. Franciel Guillen, dancer in Fuego and MCAS ’22, said that the show celebrates an important part of BC culture.
“It’s a must watch. Either you go to the workshops, the performances, or dancing with the scholars. It’s an essential part of going to BC,” Guillen said. “You can’t graduate without attending Week of Dance.”
The BC Dance Ensemble (BCDE) followed, keeping up the energy and showing off their expertise with a graceful, flowing routine to James Bay’s “Hold Back the River.”
Each group brought high levels of energy with their own unique dance style. Synergy Hip Hop Dance Company gave a passionate performance, relating to the audience with a dance to the popular TikTok song “Best Friend,” by Saweetie and Doja Cat. Transitioning from the field of Alumni Stadium, The Golden Eagles Dance Team stepped on stage next, inspiring the spirit it usually evokes at football games with OneRepublic’s “Feel Again.” Then came the Dance Organization of BC (DOBC) with its first appearance of the evening, mesmerizing the audience with its expertly synced routine to “Control” by Zoe Wees.
Some groups chose to enhance their routines with themed costumes and music. Full Swing followed with its first performance of the night, themed around 1980s dance workouts to a medley of hits from the decade. The routine to Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” was as exuberant as the dancers’ rainbow and neon outfits.
Next up, BCDE exhibited a winning mixture of poise and attitude as its members danced to a variety of Nelly Furtado tracks such as “Say It Right.”
Making their routine stick out with creative choreography formations, BC on Tap came together with a sparkling performance that featured a miniature tap dance battle in which the team split into two halves and engaged in a call-and-response tap exchange across the stage.
Phaymus Dance Entertainment followed with brilliantly energetic choreography to Beyonce’s “Upgrade U.”
Full Swing returned to the stage for a traditional swing routine to Dua Lipa’s “Levitating.” Masti brought breathtaking energy and beaming smiles as they danced to bouncing beats of Bollywood and pop fusion tunes. BC Irish Dance also brought intense energy that spread to the audience as the members danced to the Dropkick Murphys’ “Shipping Up to Boston.”
DOBC returned to round out the night with a routine to Sia’s “Cheap Thrills,” delivering the same electrifying enthusiasm that the performers and audience members had all night.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, last year’s Week of Dance events were canceled, and the weekend’s workshops and shows marked a return to this annual tradition for dance groups.
“It was also just nice to be in a performance space, especially after last year. We really missed the crowd,” said Gia Mitcham, dancer in Masti and MCAS ’23. “I think we all forgot how much of an adrenaline rush the crowd can give you during a performance.”
Featured Images by Aditya Rao / Heights Staff
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