An Eye On Culture

I’ve always been an enthusiast of the arts. Being a student at Boston College has given me an even greater appreciation for all things artistic. BC’s wide variety of clubs, activities, and performances allows students to be exposed to all types of artistic endeavors—from comedy troops to dance groups to theatre performances. As Associate Arts Editor for The Heights, they clearly all hold a special place in my heart. However there are certain sectors of the BC on-campus art life that I have gravitated to during my almost three full years at this school. The weekend of Arts Fest is a perfect time to reflect on exactly how much I love and appreciate the arts scene at BC.

I love dance shows. Ballet for 15 years will do that, I guess. Last semester, I had the pleasure of covering the BC Dance Ensemble’s fall performance, and I was completely blown away. Looking past the beautiful dancing, the true wonder of these shows resides in the fact that each dance routine is choreographed by a BCDE member, allowing each girl to showcase her specific area of expertise and show off her own personal flavor. I loved how personal the performance felt. The program featured BCDE member bios and named the choreographer and dancers of each piece. Attending this show, and all of their other performances, was truly like being welcomed into the BCDE family. The audience was lively and excited to be watching, and support from friends and family was strikingly clear.

Another dance group that always gets my attention is Sexual Chocolate. This semester, I wrote a Features article about their team, and I was lucky enough to interview them. Everyone knows they’re one of BC’s most sought-after dance teams, but meeting this group of guys made me realize just how special they were. Their work ethic, team mentality, and true sense of community was made so clear during the interview that I had a newfound respect for them and what they do with the BC and greater Boston area community, which really is so much more than stepping. This is a side of Sexual Chocolate I might not have had access to if I wasn’t in a position to interview them, but after our discussion, I was glad I could write the article to let everyone at BC know exactly how tightly knit they are as a group.

An on-campus group that I have limitless respect for is the BC Theatre Department. Last semester, while covering Into the Woods, I realized just how talented they were, and I’ve made it a personal point to see every show since then, either for The Heights or just for myself. I was blown away by the Bollywood-themed A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The costume and set design were so aesthetically pleasing and seemed so professional that I couldn’t believe the performance was taking place in Robsham. The acting, as always, was impeccable, and once again, Cam Cronin (A&S ’12) had me laughing so hard I was in tears. The Bollywood spin on a Shakespearean comedy was exactly the kind of innovation and creativity that the BC Theatre Department excels in, and I can truly say I can’t wait to see what productions are in store for next semester. I have yet to be disappointed by a performance in either the Bonn or Robsham. Although the two provide completely different atmospheres, both venues never cease to amaze with their shows. Each time I attend a production, I am always amazed that such talented actors and production staffers actually attend BC. Their mixture of small, obscure plays with Shakespeare and famous musicals offers a dynamic schedule of plays to look forward to all year (literally, I’ve been waiting for this Bollywood production since September).

Whether or not you attended Arts Fest events, I hope that you at least stopped to think and appreciate the effort that our fellow students put into the respective arts that they love not just this weekend, but all year round. As cheesy as it sounds, it’s what makes our campus unique and bursting with life and energy. Since freshman year, I’ve loved attending on-campus events, and having the honor of covering them for the paper has been something I have truly enjoyed. Arts Fest might be over, but there are always opportunities to go see performances throughout the year. Even if you don’t know anyone in any clubs or groups you can support, go to an on-campus activity. I promise you’ll enjoy yourself.