When you live in St Andrews, you know that there is no shortage of possible activities to do on a Saturday, which is why you may be shocked to hear that a multi-university dance competition is the best use of that time. However, on Saturday, February 7th, the University of St Andrews Dance Club hosted their annual Take the StAge competition in Younger Hall, which was an enthralling all-day affair showcasing the best of Scottish universities’ dance talents.
Running from approximately 10am to 6pm, Take the StAge demonstrated a variety of amazing dances, ranging from Ballet to Hip Hop to Highland Fusion. There’s no commitment to stay all day, as you receive a wristband upon arrival so you can move in and out with ease. Many people came just to see their friends perform, and just as many stayed after because of the spell these dancers cast on the audience.
My qualifications for judging dances are not so notable, as I only completed kiddie dance classes myself. However, I’ve watched a lot of dance recitals over time and love to attend the Dance Club’s semesterly showcases. A disproportionate amount of my friends are dancers, so I generally know what makes a number better, but every team represented at Take the StAge blew it out of the water.
Every time a group got on stage, the rest of their respective University dance team would call out their chant. Some Universities brought signs. The energy in the room, even the audience, was unreal. This was just the beginning.
Once the music started and the dancers hit their cues, you could feel the passion they had for their performances. I couldn’t help but appreciate how much time each dance squad spent practicing, let alone how much effort they put into their costumes, makeup, and music mash-ups.
Dancing Through Life (or the Rest of the Day)
I feel it necessary to distinguish some dances that personally caught my attention. All the ballerinas brought beautiful storytelling to the stage, but one number by the Intermediate Ballet team of Edinburgh Napier University did a retelling of Alice in Wonderland that transported me out of Younger Hall and into their world. The St Andrews Advanced Ballet team was so in sync I believe I was hypnotized. Every jazz number used the catchiest song that worked so well with the click of their shoes.
I was sad by the time we had to break for lunch, but enjoyed the afternoon dances equally.
The highlight of Take the StAge (both according to me, and the crowd-voted favorite) was the Advanced Hip Hop number from St Andrews. Before this performance, the crowd really started to fill in, but once it started, nobody could leave. The dance was called Symphony No. 26 in H Major, choreographed by St Andrews student Kyle MacDonald. It was a Hip hop dance to several classical pieces of music that was, quite literally, perfect. With dropped jaws across the audience, I even heard a girl from another University say “That was the best dance I’ve ever seen” afterwards.
By the end of the day, my eyes were tired from the sparkles, motion, and lights but my heart was filled. Despite my inability to even keep a rhythm, I found myself dancing around the rest of the day. Anyone looking for a relaxing yet enthralling way to spend their Saturday should make their way to Take the StAge next year.