bOp! & The Arts

Capping off the three-day Arts Fest, BC bOp! came together with a variety of campus dance acts on Saturday night to put on a night performance titled Dancing with bOp! Performing to an over-capacity crowd, bOp! kept the intensity high with a combination of classic nights and original material.

Directed by Sebastian Bonaiuto, Boston College’s most infamous jazz band ensemble slapped on their suits and dresses for the formal soiree in the O’Neill Plaza tent. The night began with a piece of original music in which variety members of the band took solos to introduce themselves to the lively crowd. The company was then joined by the BC Dance Ensemble and performed Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper’s famous bubbly ’60s hit “Knock On Wood.” A duet of bOp! singers crooned out great vocals while seven Ensemble members pranced in unison in teal, pink, and purple leotards.

The bOp! singers then displayed their talents, as the eight-piece chorus sang Glenn Miller’s wartime hit “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree (With Anyone Else but Me).” With a wide set of vocal ranges and some impressive solos, the bOp! chorus cemented themselves as an impressive annex of the jazz ensemble.

The tempo was then slowed when the Dance Organization of BC graced the stage to perform to a bOp! rendition of  The Beatles’ classic “Yesterday.” The group executed an enchanting number that included graceful pirouettes and an artful passing of a red balloon throughout the stage.

Things then kicked back up when a second section of the Dance Organization accompanied BC bOp! for an ecstatic collaboration on Ricki-Lee Coulter’s 2007 dance hit “Can’t Touch It.” The screaming horn section blended well with the shimmering attire chosen by the dancers, as the dance troupe skillfully kept in step with the frenzied bOp! beat.

After an original piece that included a magnificent drum and sax solo, BC’s favorite Latin dance group Fuego del Corazon brought their paired dancing talents to the stage for a performance to the fiery electro hit “Mr. Saxobeat” and the intimate slow jam “Promise.” The troupe impressed the crowd with their steamy dance progressions and trademark Latin flavor.

The next group to grace the stage was BC’s storied Irish Dance club, which showed off their impressive step dancing abilities with the backing of an upbeat number that kept the O’Neill Plaza patrons buzzing with approval. The bOp! singers then graced the stage for a stunning rendering of Edith Piaf’s French love ballad “Autumn Leaves.” Two couples, feeling a need to express their love for the ’40s song, hopped on stage to improvise a dance number. The African dance club PATU then graced the stage to high step and dance along to a percussion heavy tropical melody.

After a brief intermission, a third section of the Dance Organization was brought onstage to perform to The Heavy’s modern jazz hit “How You Like Me Now.” With formal black dancewear and an artful collection of dance moves, it proved to be one of the most memorable recitals of the night. After a classic rendition of Brian Setzer’s swing ditty “Jump Jive An’ Wail,” the campus’ classiest dance group, Swings Kids, hopped on the dance floor and showed off their elegant moves to “Bring Me Sunshine.” The four pairs of dancers were spot-on during their routines, which the crowd appreciated in the form of roaring applause.

Culture group MASTI followed with a rousing ethnic number. Equipped with purple vest and silver sequined pants, the group brought some Southeast Asian flavor to the show while bOp! jumped out of their jazz comfort zone to explore a different range of sounds. The bOp! singers got to once again show off their talents with a classic bOp! delivery of Earth, Wind, and Fire’s soulful hit “September.”

The last group to show off their talents during the night was hip-hop troupe Phaymus. bOp! turned notions of the standard jazz group on its head when they performed a melody of modern rap hits, including Kanye West and Jay-Z’s “Ni**as in Paris,” Ke$ha’s electro-infused “Blow,” and Kelly Rowland’s “Motivation.”

After the rousing hip-hop display, all of the dance groups were reintroduced on stage to take a bow and the performers graciously saluted BC bOp!, showing their gratitude for the ensemble’s ability to seamlessly mesh with every type of genre. bOp! then busted out their final number of the night, in which dancers and audience members alike packed the stage to groove during the late hours of the night. With a performance that artfully combined several artistic mediums, it’s not easy to think up a better close to a successful Arts Fest than Dancing with bOp!