Arts Fest: Dance

Dance talent gushed, much like the contaminated water into the Charles River, this weekend at the Boston College Arts Fest. The talent could not be stopped. Over the span of three days, all of the on-campus dance groups had the opportunity to perform multiple pieces for students and the community in the sprawling artistic Mecca of O'Neill Plaza."

Each showcase performance lasted an average of an hour. The Friday afternoon performance, for example, featured a diverse style of dance. The first group to perform was the Dance Organization, performing to Sarah Bareilles' "Gravity," a song that will resonate to all those So You Think You Can Dance fans in the audience that still have the Mia Michaels' version in their recent memory. The group's contemporary dance featured black, sparkling tank tops and booty shorts, and an astounding foutte section.
Then, for something completely different, came Masti, a part of the South East Asian Student's Association. The group danced everything from Bollywood to Bonga, breaking bamboo sticks and breaking it down to everything from classical Indian tunes to Chris Brown's "Forever." Immediately following was the Philippine Society of BC, dancing a couples dance influenced by a polka-esque flavor that originated from the Northern region of the Philippines.

The BC Dance Ensemble followed with a tap number from their spring show Beneath, dancing to Akon's "What You Got." Then the Chinese Student Association (CSA) came to the stage with a classical Chinese fan dance. The dance dates back 4,000 years, and was apparently used by imperial concubines to tempt the royalty. Their yellow fans billowed in the perfectly temperate wind of the day.

The DOBC returned to the stage after CSA to perform "Anticipate," with lithe fan kicks, swaying arms, and fierce expressions to match. To finish off the show, ALC Showdown champion Synergy hit the Arts Fest stage. With just white tank tops with stark blue "S"s, the group flipped, locked, and hit every mark they intended to hit. The bass bumped along as hard as their hip hop moves.

Any hour-long show that is able to fit in Chinese fan dancing seamlessly alongside contemporary, and Bollywood alongside hip hop beats, has successfully accomplished what dance is supposed to accomplish: fusion, excitement, and talent.