If you didn’t see the dance show this Friday, Nov. 23, or Saturday, Nov. 24, then I am really, really sorry for you. Hundreds of people filled the Daniels Theater in Atwood Hall and even stood in the back at the end-of-semester showcase for two of Clark’s dance groups, Variant Dance Troupe and Dance Society. 

The audience spared no cheers for their friends, shouting things like “that’s my roommate!” or screaming “Circle! Circle!” whenever dancers formed the shape. Ella Assouramou, the show host and a member of Clark salsa and hip-hop clubs, complimented the crowd’s liveliness and engagement with the songs, giving them “no notes” on their performance.

Starting with performances to “Edge of Seventeen” by Stevie Nicks and ending with “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen, the show’s songs ranged across all genres. Rock music was complemented by contemporary styles, mainstream pop like “HOT TO GO!” by Chappell Roan, a ballet-piano rendition of “I Will Survive” and even a gritty, folk-country tap dancing song called “Sleeping on the Blacktop”. 

Meanwhile, the dancing (choreographed entirely by students) was as astounding as the songs were versatile. For both groups, the dancers’ movements were smooth and intentional with a professional level of synchronicity not usually found in a college student club. When the lights dimmed, showing only the silhouettes of ten dancers lowering their bodies to the floor in complete unison, the image was nothing less than a work of art.

Also noteworthy were the careful costume selections by the choreographers. Since they control the music and lighting in addition to costumes, choreographers have full reign over the stage when their song is playing. Iin many cases they took rather creative liberties. This played out in songs like “Don’t Stop” by Fleetwood Mac, where the dancers’ red, orange and yellow tops symbolized the rising sun of tomorrow; or in “In the House of Flies” by the Deftones, featuring unique black veils which, combined with the slow dancing, manifested a deathly, grim feeling in the audience. Juliana Reynolds, a junior in Dance Society said, the elements “all come together… to draw our audience into our world for two or six minutes at a time.”

Although Dance Society and Variant Dance Troupe have 18 and 30 members respectively, most of the songs had somewhere between 5 and 13 dancers. The two groups alternated between songs and the transitions were filled with Assouramou’s natural charisma. While dancers were getting ready for their next piece, she gave fun, witty comments and responses to people in the audience. She of course, also professed her undying love for Bruno Mars. Perhaps the only things more jaw-dropping than Bruno to her were the dancers during the dress recital.

This is no surprise either: Both groups have been learning, memorizing and rehearsing their dances since September. After members sign up for dances they’re interested in, they must devote four to ten hours a week for group practices. Some Dance Society members even go up to fifteen! In Dance Society, practice always begins with stretching and sometimes a workout or two. Then, in both groups, choreographers spend the rest of their time teaching new choreography, reviewing old choreography, or cleaning it up for a performance.

Two dancers shared their experiences in Dance this semester. For Reynolds, the hardest part about learning and performing the dances is remembering each dance’s choreography when many are in the same style and have similar moves. Before every dance, she goes through the choreography to remind herself exactly how many turns are at this part, or if the sequence she’s thinking of is from this song or another one. 

Shayla Bassingthwaite, a senor in Variant Dance Troupe, finds it hard to memorize her choreography on top of her homework and everything else in her life. However, this just makes it more rewarding at the end when Variant is performing on stage! She said if you mess up, don’t fret: It’s common to share your mistakes with your teammates backstage and remind each other that it’s no big deal, and no one even noticed.

While Variant Dance Troupe welcomes everyone wanting to join (hence why they have almost twice as many members as Dance Society), Dance Society holds auditions multiple days every September. Auditionees go through exercises then learn and perform a sequence together in groups of two or three. Then, in callbacks, they learn another sequence and get to show off a “trick” while getting to know the members. Auditions are competitive, as around four people get accepted each year in a pool of up to thirty.

Questions can be forwarded to [email protected], and Variant Dance Troupe can be reached at [email protected].