This week we are lucky enough to have not one Campus Celebtiry, but two! These bombshells are two of the coolest girls around, not to mention they were this year’s co-captains of Hypnotiq, UW-Madison’s original hip-hop dance crew. If you’ve been searching for someone to teach you how to twerk, pop, lock and jam, look no further.
What are you majors?
Hailey: I am graduating with a BA in Sociology.
Sophie: I am graduating with a BBA in Management and Human Resources
Tell us about Hypnotiq.
Our bio: Founded in September 2006, Hypnotiq performs at many events on and off campus. With a focus on appreciating diversity and giving back to the community, Hypnotiq provides dancers with an opportunity to develop, choreograph, and perform. Hypnotiq provides opportunities for the greater Madison community. We volunteer at community centers and host workshops for children and students of all ages.
You were both the only four-year members on the team this year. How has the team changed since you were freshmen?
Hailey: This year we had a very large team with 25 members, 10 of which were new to the team. Our freshmen year we were only an 18 member team, four of which were new, and Sophie and I were the only freshmen. I think being one of four newbies on the team was a little more intimidating back in the day. We also had six guys on the team this year which is the most we’ve ever had! Another thing that has changed is how we have started to incorporate a broad range of dance styles including lyrical, twerking, tutting, flips and tricks, your standard hard-hitting hip hop and everything in between. I love it!
Sophie: As Hailey said, the team has grown quite a bit! Not only do we have more members and more guys, but our presence on and off campus has also grown significantly. Our freshman year not many people recognized Hypnotiq’s name or logo. Now there are a lot more people who don’t personally know someone on the team who have seen us perform or at least heard of HQ, which is awesome!! As we’ve grown, we’ve tried to implement a little more structure too. The year before we made the team, only one person ran HQ. When we started, she left second semester which is why I was able to join the executive board right away. It took a couple years to get everything ironed out to make sure everything was someone’s responsibility and not being forgotten. As we’ve grown we’ve also added more responsibilities and things for the team to do to make it more of an enjoyable experience and get our name out there more!
What was it like being co-coordinators this year?
Hailey: Being co-head coordinators was a wild ride. I wouldn’t have done it any other way than with Sophie by my side. It had its challenges, but that comes with the territory. It really helped that we’re roommates and see each other every day. We brought out the best in each other, bounced amazing ideas off of one another, and helped each other when we needed it the most. It is actually really ironic that we ended up running Hypnotiq together because growing up, we went to rival high schools and our dance teams HATED each other. Never in a million years would I have guessed that my enemy would become my teammate, roommate, co-head coordinator, and best friend.
Sophie: Hailey’s answer sums it up pretty well. I couldn’t really imagine it happening any other way this year just because we balance each other and have different strengths to bring the position. Hailey definitely has more of the creative juices flowing where as my business background helped a lot just with the general organization of the team, although we both definitely contributed to both aspects. It is absolutely unbelievable that of all people Hailey and I were the co-head coordinators of HQ given our background, as she said. It is really cool to look back and think we were the only two freshmen on the team four years ago and now have been able to run this amazing organization together and help get HQ to where it is today.
What’s it like balancing school, work, as well as Hypnotiq throughout the year?
Hailey: Balancing everything can be stressful at times but it is always worth it. You just have to be really proactive and take initiative to get things done. Our Hypnotiq executive board was amazing at sharing responsibilities and helping us when our plates got a little too full. Hypnotiq practices are my favorite part of the week because I get to share my passion with people I love. We all just try to be understanding of people’s busy schedules because we’re all in the same boat as college students.
Sophie: Yeah, balancing everything was never easy, but it always seems to work out in the end. Planning ahead and making sure that everyone is on the same page definitely plays a key role. As Hailey said, the executive board was AMAZING this year. We definitely could not have done it without them. Because dance is such a huge passion of mine, Hypnotiq definitely came before a lot of other things going on in my life this year. Even though running the team was a lot of work, being able to spend 5+ hours a week dancing with people that have become like family made it so it didn’t feel like work.
What’s your favorite part about the team?
Hailey: My favorite part of the team is how we’ve became a family. Everyone brings their own uniqueness to the team and adds an amazing dynamic. Hypnotiq wouldn’t be what it is without such beautiful people inside and out. They are crazy talented and make me want to become a better dancer. I’ll never be able to thank my Hypnaughty family enough for everything they have given me from dance experience, to life lessons, to lasting friendships. I have so much love for every single one of them.
Sophie: Hailey keeps saying everything I want to say! But yes, definitely becoming family with everyone on the team. Everybody comes from such different backgrounds and has such different talents they bring to the team and so the fact that we can all become such a cohesive group because of our love for dance is pretty awesome. It’s also really cool to see how over a span of a year the HQ babies (new HQ members) begin to come out of their shells. I love every single person on this team and I am so blessed to know that I will have so many amazing people in my life for years to come.
Favorite dance you’ve done?
Hailey: I’d have to say that my favorite dance is the first one Sophie and I choreographed our sophomore year. Part of the dance was to Chris Brown’s “Say Goodbye” and I have envisioned dancing to that song for as long as I can remember. Plus it was my first choreographing experience for HQ so it was pretty surreal. My other favorite routine is the first Hypnotiq routine that I learned freshmen year choreographed by Alexa. I can still remember every single count!
Sophie: Hmm that’s a tough one. I can’t pick one!! I’d say it’s a tie between the one Hailey and I choreographed our sophomore year, the one I choreographed last year, or Erica’s from this year. It is always an unreal experience to see your choreography brought to life by dancers the same age as you. I teach at a local dance studio with younger kids (3-18), so to teach dancers who are even more talented than yourself and see the piece come to life in ways you didn’t think were possible is a remarkable experience.
What would you say to someone who doesn’t have a huge dance background, but still wants to get involved?
Hailey: We host free hip hop workshops once a month at the Student Activity Center!!! They are open to anyone and everyone that is interested. A Hypnotiq team member choreographs a short number and then teaches it step by step. They’re a lot of fun and we always encourage people to attend! We had a team member who didn’t make the team her first year, she came to all of the workshops throughout the year, then made the team the following year!
Sophie: Yes, definitely attend our free workshops that are once a month!! No dance experience is necessary and they’re a lot of fun, and FREE! We post updates about when they are on our Facebook page. The other thing I would say is to come watch us perform. The annual showcase is the easiest way to see us perform and it’s all of our routines from the year. It’s a great way to support the group and enjoy the love of dance!
How emotional was your senior showcase for you?
Hailey: The senior showcase was very bittersweet. The showcase is where you see all of your hard work pay off and it is so much fun performing for our family and friends. This was the largest crowd we’ve ever had at so it was the perfect ending to an incredible four years. I didn’t realize how hard it would be to watch it all come to an end. When our team members surprised the seniors with their tribute piece to “Missing you” I lost it. Sophie and I were bawling like babies. I still can’t believe how much hard work they put it just to say thank you and that they’ll miss us. It was beautiful. I could hug them all 100 times over and it wouldn’t be enough to express how much it meant to me.
Sophie: Way too emotional!! There are no words to describe what it feels like to see all the work you have put into the team over the year flash by in a matter of what feels like 30 seconds (the showcase is usually 2 hours long). Knowing that this was my last one still isn’t something I have come to terms with because Hypnotiq has played such a large part of my life over the past four years. This year’s showcase was by far the best way to go out though! We had such an amazing turnout this year to the point that we were over capacity and event staff actually had to turn people away. The best part of the show (and by far the most emotional) was the senior recognition. My teammates have become my best friends and family and the piece they put together proved that. I still get teary eyed thinking about it. I really can’t put into words how much love I have for them. I don’t want to leave yet!
When are Hypnotiq tryouts and how can people join the team?
Hailey: Tryouts are held every fall semester, typically during the third week of September. During the first two days, participants learn a short dance routine. They then perform it with a group of 4-5 in front of a panel of Hypnotiq judges. After tryouts, we have callbacks to watch how everyone dances together to see if styles and techniques are compatible. At callbacks, dancers will learn another short routine to see how quickly they can learn and adapt to new styles. After callbacks occur the judges deliberate and pick the team! One we have the team, we practice twice a week: three hours on Sunday nights and two hours on Wednesday nights. Workshops are usually once a month and performance schedules vary throughout the semester. It’s so much fun!