On Sunday, April 7th, the Susquehanna University Dance Corps performed their annual showcase – this year’s was titled Dance Dance Evolution. The two act show was ceaselessly entertaining with smooth transitions from one dance to the next. Even more impressively, all of the dances were choreographed by students. Several routines throughout the showcase highlighted the evolution of dance, with a “Decades Mashup” choereographed by Angelique Poragratti, Tara Montis’s solo performance of “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” and a selection of music from the early 2000s – like Britney Spears’s “Circus,” Foster the Kids’s “Pumped Up Kids,” and Destiny Childs’ “Lose My Breath.”
Aside from solo, duet, and trio performances, several groups wowed their routines. The Susquehanna University Dance Team stormed the stage with energy and sass, stomping and clapping their way through fast-paced music. Their performances, “Showtime,” “Run the World,” “Better Have My Money,” had the crowds roaring with their well-timed and fiercely executed moves.
Hands down the most dramatic dance, however, was “Lose My Breath,” performed by a small group in heels, choreographed by Donique Haynes. The dancers – Donique Haynes, Semoni Sherwood, Zaida Bryant, Terrjae’ Poston, Taneja Williams, Kim Domingo and Ashley Ward – had the audience shook when they strutted on stage and laid across a row of chairs. The dramatic lighting gave a vibe very similar to Beyonce’s Partition music video that we all lived for.
Other highlights from the showcase included Ashleigh Tomcics’s politically influenced choreography for “Pumped Up Kicks” was performed by the modern dance class. Their dance gave the audience chills as they embodied a reminder of the recent tragedies of school shootings. Meghan Ruge, another senior dancer/choreographer, danced her farewell to Susquehanna University with a guest appearance by Morgan Dartnell in a bittersweet routine to the song “Ready to Go.” Another favorite was the crowd pleaser duet “Talk Too Much” by Katy Grubb and Joanna Messineo.
This was my first time attending the showcase but I will definitely be attending next year’s. Dance Dance Evolution had the energy to make you want to become a dancer, and was also a reminder of how much talent it takes to be able to perform with the skill these dancers have.