Published 2008-04-22T00:00:00Z”/>
Jennifer Siino
—<em>Watch video of the dance team at the bottom of this page.</em>—“Just think about it. You don’t want to smell your armpit.”
Out of context this statement is strange but oddly true. However, when uttered during the Chico State Expressions dance team’s rehearsal to fine-tune its choreography, it made perfect sense.
The rehearsal was for the upcoming 10th annual Spring Showcase. The team will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Performing Arts Center, Room 134. The members work on the pieces for this show all year, on top of learning their routines for the basketball games, team captain Kristin Carmack said.
Low publicity doesn’t stop the Expressions Dance Team from putting together choreographed performances to support the Wildcats. The team starts early, during the first three weeks of school, Carmack said. Fifteen women are chosen to be on the team, and they practice three times a week during the school year.
Team member Samantha Slack said the late-night practices are the most challenging part of being on the team.
“You go to school and work all day and then go to practice,” Slack said.
After getting to practice, Slack enjoys dancing away the worries of the day and being with people who have things in common with her, she said.
For having so many things in common, the women retain their own distinct personalities, which are shown through their contributions to the showcase.
During the first few weeks of the year team members submit choreographed routines complete with costume designs, in hopes the team will vote to perform them for the spring showcase, Carmack said.
At this year’s spring showcase, only one routine was not choreographed by a team member because an alumna created it, Carmack said.
“We like to keep it in the family,” she said.
One of the dances, choreographed by Slack, is to the song “Revolution,” from the “Across the Universe” soundtrack.
The costumes for this dance are different for each woman, Slack said. Everyone styled their own shirts, and the general idea was to show peace, love and individuality in their costumes.
Bringing individuality and diversity to the showcase was a theme in many of the routines.
Co-captain Haley Clement has three dances in the show, she said. One is a contemporary belly dance with instrumental music.
“It’s an adaptation to one of the songs from ‘Hairspray,'” Clement said.
By incorporating different styles and songs, Expressions is trying to make the show more well-rounded, she said.
Its objective seems to be achieved through the inclusion of songs ranging from “Angel” by Sarah McLachlan to “Lady Marmalade” from “Moulin Rouge” and “Lip Gloss” by Lil Mama.
With a recommended donation of $5 at the door, the Spring Showcase is a cheap chance to see the dance team in action.
Jen Siino can be reached at <a href= “mailto:[email protected]”>[email protected]</a>
<strong>Related links</strong><a href= “http://media.www.theorion.com/media/storage/paper889/news/2004/09/01/Features/Shake.Shimmy.Through.Class-1506225.shtml”>Shake, shimmy through class</a>
<em>Video by Kevin Feusier</em>
