Family, friends, students, and alumni packed the Bonn Studio Theater in buzzing anticipation of Boston College On Tap’s inaugural solo showcase, entitled Body And Sound.
The performers—including freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and a graduate student—flexed their dancing muscles with a variety of show-stopping numbers choreographed to a range of music styles.
Friday night’s show opened with “Come Together” by Gary Clark Jr. and Junkie XL. The bumping rock beat of the song complemented the dancers’ driving tap steps. The sound of dozens of tap shoes hitting the floor in unison produced an intense wall of sound and made for a rousing start to the night.
The second dance of the show starred five BC On Tap rookies. These new members of the team showed off their impressive skills to the tune of “Sunday Morning” by Maroon 5.
The third dance, choreographed to “Kiwi” by Harry Styles, also showcased the force of BC On Tap with a section of the performance done without music, highlighting the rhythms that the dancers created themselves. The incredible sounds of intricate tap steps once again filled the theater, bringing a powerful end to this dance.
After a guest performance by BC Irish Dance, On Tap dancers once again took to the stage to perform a dance with heeled shoes, introducing this new style to the group’s repertoire. Wearing stilettos instead of tap shoes, the dancers, framed in intimidating red lights, delivered a new form of performance called heels dance.
After a guest performance by the BC Acoustics a cappella group, the tap dancers came back on stage to the groovy beat of “Beggin” by Madcon. The music complemented the syncopated rhythm of the tap steps, and each dancer got a short solo and showed off a tap step or two.
Another highlight of the night came when BC On Tap alumni got a chance to perform a number from their four years as tappers at BC. Performing their 2017 Showdown number called Chicago, they tapped with energy to the lively songs of the famous musical by the same title. The alumni performed with zest, showing that they were excited to be back sharing their passion for tap dance.
The showcase came to a close when the current BC On Tap members came back on stage to perform their ALC Showdown 2022 number Singin’ in the Rain as a finale. Featuring a medley of tunes from the iconic movie musical, the dancers wore bright yellow raincoats, adding to the story and echoing the happy atmosphere of the songs.
After a brief shift to rain-focused pop songs—including “Umbrella” by Rihanna and “Rain On Me” by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande—the music shifted back to the end of “Singin’ in the Rain.” BC On Tap struck one final stage pose, marking a triumphant end to its first showcase.
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