A crowd gathered in front of Shriver, waiting to get into the highly anticipated dance event. Eclectics, JHU’s largest dance crew and Masti joined forces to put together a collective dance showcase. Excitement ran high in the packed theater. Both groups alternated their performances, one following the other.
Eclectics welcomes all skill levels of dance. They incorporate a variety of dance styles into their choreography, ranging from lyrical to hip-hop. Unique to the Eclectics is their ability to utilize their large number without letting anyone getting lost in the crowd; there are a total of thirty seven official crew members. The audience could focus on the individual skill of every dancer, or enjoy the moving artwork they made as a cohesive unit.
Masti is the Hindi word for fun, and they keep that in mind throughout their dances — every member embodies fun while they are performing. This group combines the dance genres of fusion with traditional Bollywood, bangra and jazz, just to name a few.
The show started off on a sentimental note with Moses Song and Natasha Senn performing a dance and song piece for their Senior Arts Certificate. The live band contributed to the romantic ambiance of the number. They told an intriguing love story of infatuation, heartbreak and redemption through clever choreography and the music of John Legend, Adele and John Mayer.
Megha Sharma glided in, perfectly pulling off the role of the other woman while crooning a moving vocal rendition of Adele’s “Rumor Has It. Both crews creatively utilized the lighting capabilities of Shriver. The background was lit with colors that complemented the routine. In some instances, the dancers were completely backlit, and the audience was mesmerized by the shapes that their moving silhouettes made against the backdrop. It contributed to a poignant atmosphere.
Eclectic’s first upbeat piece set an impressive precedence for the rest of the night. The crew’s bright and 80s themed outfits had the audience on the edge of their seats as they were welcomed to the “kiki.” A kiki is defined by the Scissor Sisters as “a party for calming all your nerves.” Indeed, the dance showcase was an excellent party for calming all of the post-Spring Break nerves.
After a smooth transition, Masti came out with an elegant dance routine to upbeat Bollywood tunes. Every move they made was sharp and on point. The whole crew was impressively united in their movements, while effectively utilizing the male and female dynamics in couple dances. Throughout the night, they consistently delivered fresh mash-ups of American and Indian music as well as dance styles. They always had a smile on their faces and delivered a consistent level of energy.
Eclectic’s most hauntingly beautiful piece of the night was entitled “Scars and Bruises.” Female dancers in angelically flowing white dresses displayed the extent to which modern dance can move the viewer. Through the song choices of “Jeuves” by La Oreja de Van Gogh and “I Bruise Easily” by Natasha Bedingfield, they told a story of broken hearts and love scorned. They opened up through dance to expose the vulnerability of love.
The show lasted an hour and a half, ending with a heartwarming shout out to all of the seniors who were dancing in their last showcase. They were presented with roses and heartfelt praises from their fellow crew members.
It became clear that the dancers have developed deep bonds with each other that helped them become a unified dance unit on stage. Maarten Sap, who was not a senior but an exchange student from Switzerland, also received accolades as he is leaving at the end of the semester. Sap said, “Eclectics is my family.”
