The NC State dance scene came to life this past week with a flurry of major dance events.
A number of dance crews on campus held their own shows throughout the week and finished off the weekend together at the seventh annual NC State’s Best Dance Crew performance Sunday.
Fall Showcase
DanceVisions Dance Company and Fusion Dance Crew held their first annual Fall Showcase Wednesday, where a variety of performers came to the stage to show their talent.
Both hosting crews exhibited a variety of hip-hop dance styles, each group incorporating its own twists into the performances. Dancing with Wolves Ballroom Dance Club also performed its own take on dance with a Latin rumba.
At the end of the showcase, dance crew members invited the audience to come up and take part in a spontaneous, cypher-style dance.
Alexis Greene, a senior studying psychology and the vice president of DanceVisions, said the groups started planning the event this past summer and that her vision was to “bring all the dancers together on campus.” Greene said she believed the event went well, as it drew in a large crowd.
“I especially liked the ending with everyone dancing together,” Greene said.
Greene said she hopes that the Fall Showcase will continue for many years to come.
Cackalacky Beginner Challenge
More than 30 couples came to compete in the Cackalacky Beginner Challenge hosted by the Dancing With Wolves Ballroom Dance Club. The competition was primarily for ballroom and Latin dancers with one to three semesters’ worth of dancing experience.
Dances such as cha-cha, rumba, foxtrot and quickstep dominated the ballroom of Talley Student Union. Students from both NC State and individuals from other areas danced for a variety of judges, a few of whom were NC State alumni.
Seventh Annual NC State’s Best Dance Crew Performance
To round out the week, DanceLife presented the seventh annual NC State’s Best Dance Crew performance Sunday.
Dance groups from all over campus competed to win money for their selected charities. The first group to take the stage was The Production, who mesmerized the audience with a variety of flashy moves performed to a Britney Spears music montage.
After The Production came Sube Ritmo, a hot and spicy Latin dance team that earned respect through its dips and tricks, as well as a stunning Irish dance solo by one of its members to start off the performance.
After a brief intermission, DanceVisions took the stage. With a variety of hip-hop elements and a whole lot of fun mixed in, DanceVisions kept audience members on the edge of their seats.
DanceVisions then gave the stage to DanceLife, who brought many different elements of dance to the stage. With hints of ballet and contemporary dance mixed in, it was a style that made them stand out from all of the other dance crews.
The final group to take the stage was Just Cuz Crew, who showed the audience its talent through its hard-hitting routine that represented the journey through college.
The audience voted by cheering for their favorite crew. The teams were narrowed down to Just Cuz Crew, DanceVisions and Sube Ritmo. After DanceVisions was eliminated, it was plain to hear that Just Cuz Crew had won the audience’s cheers.
Just Cuz Crew chose to donate its winnings, $300, to Project Heal, a charity dedicated to helping those with eating disorders.
“It completely changed my view on dance and arts,” said David Warren, a senior studying textile engineering and materials science engineering.
Dasha Hamrick, a sophomore studying business management and a member of Sube Ritmo, said her group looks forward to competing in next year’s competition.
“We are definitely coming back and hopefully we will win,” Hamrick said.
