Rebecca Hale
Staff Writer
Dancers of all styles and colors twisted, jumped and rolled in Mason 1080, bringing movement and color to the dark, rainy Saturday evening. Students, faculty, friends and family squeezed into the room until no more could fit, many standing in the back of the room to watch the performers twirl and tap. All seats were filled by people who craned their necks to see what they could.
Twenty-one members of Orchesis, a student-run dance company on campus, were prepared to perform in their annual showcase — this year’s named, “Orchesis: Unplugged.” The show featured eight pieces, each choreographed by a student, with the exception of the opening piece, “Radioactive,” which was guest- choreographed by Orchesis alum, Jordan Simone.
Each piece was different, from tap, hip-hop, jazz, traditional and contemporary. Dancers donned costumes that ranged from simple black leotards, to sweatpants, jeans or elegant dresses. One piece, “Hip Pop,” featured all male dancers and was choreographed by Harrison Schenkel. Another piece even utilized a piano as a prop, with a trio of female dancers leaping from it, and Evan Miller pretending to play it in “Hit the Road, Jack,” choreographed by Sydney Thomas, BFA dance major and president of Orchesis.
The show is normally performed in one of Mason’s larger recital halls, but due to upcoming construction, the performance was held in Mason 1080, a vast room in the back of the music school; however, the dancers were not discouraged.
“We really liked the look of Mason; it’s really beautiful in there,” said Thomas. “We’re excited for it.”
The show was a success indeed. Chairs were lined up on the outsides of the room, and music was played through speakers in the back and sides of the room, controlled by Thomas.
Thomas explained that, although the change in location caused a lack of lighting changes and a place for
dancers to change and enter a “stage area,” the company embraced a less traditional and informal venue — hence, the name “Unplugged.”
“In previous years, we’ve used Bartlett, but even in that they would have lighting. And the seats are still raised a little bit, but, in this room, we don’t even have lighting,” said Thomas.
“I’ve never danced in a place like this in a show,” added Abby Donegan, treasurer of Orchesis. Donegan also explained that, with the new venue, the company wanted to incorporate live bands playing but were unable to.
“Originally we were going to have all live music, but we had to put the show together so fast that it was way too difficult,” she said.
Members of Orchesis Dance Company worked hard to put together this show, as dancers had only rehearsed their pieces for three weeks, and almost all of the performers were involved in more than one piece. The eager dancers auditioned four weeks ago, when Donegan actually fractured her finger. Donegan, a junior double major in BFA dance and child inclusive education with a concentration in English, is the club’s treasurer, and she performed in three pieces, as well as choreographed the show’s fourth piece, “Beauty.”
Susan Crisalli returned to watch her sophomore daughter perform in her second Orchesis performance. Crisalli’s favorite piece was the opening act because it utilized “a lot of different moves.” She enjoyed the performance by Orchesis especially because it was choreographed by students.
“The students do a great job,” Crisalli said although adding, “I like the [usual] stadium seating, because I couldn’t see.”