Do a little dance, make a little noise

By Kerry Fischer

Dance is a universal means of self-expression and form of communal activity, stretching across time and cultures, and certainly not bypassing Yale. Whatever your dance background, whether you have been training since you could walk or you only dance at parties, and whatever your style--tap, ballet, modern, hip-hop, ballroom, or improv--you should be able to find your groove among one of Yale's dance groups.

Dance at Yale has expanded in the past couple of years to meet the needs of a wide range of dancers seeking more than tutus or black leather pants. Above everything else, dancers from all groups praise the variety of opportunities to learn from others and expand their own repertoires. Beyond the realm of "Soul Train" and "Swan Lake," dancers at Yale can find a sense of community and great freedom to work collaboratively and imaginatively.

Of the five dance groups, Danceworks is the most inclusive. An ensemble dance forum, this co-ed group welcomes dancers of all types with varying levels of experiences, no auditions required. Completely student-run, the group prides itself on diversity, creativity, and energy. Anyone is welcome to choreograph the performances held each semester, and when choreographers are given free reign, the possibilities are endless. This fall's show included dances ranging from a ballet set to Placido Domingo's "Granada" and a modern piece set to Tori Amos' "Star Fucker" to a choreopoem set to Edgar Allen Poe's "Annabel Lee."

YaleDancers, known for their professionalism and technical proficiency, may appeal to the dancer seeking a more intense group. YaleDancers holds auditions only once, at the beginning of the fall semester, and these are open to anyone, undergrads and grad students. Dancers rehearse one hour each week per dance and spend an additional three hours at two weekly classes. According to Tanya Greenberg, CC '98, "It's really serious. We're all really dedicated, and it's a really big time commitment." The commitment, however, clearly pays off: YaleDancers holds shows twice a year, and also performs at Spring Fling, the Branford Golden CAF festival, and at Six Feet Under in Calhoun. Through a community service program instituted three years ago, Yaledancers also visit New Haven schools, performing at assemblies and holding dance lessons.

A Different Drum, the newest dance group at Yale, also incorporates just about any style its dancers know into its eclectic performances. Its members have been well-trained in an assortment of dance types, such as jazz, hip-hop, and Indian. Initially consisting of 16 dancers, A Different Drum put up only one show in its introductory year. Still, the show was met with rave reviews, and students all around campus could be heard talking about the group's successful performance during the following week.

Rhythmic Blue offers a more specialized dance environment, focusing on modern, contemporary, and hip-hop. Performances are energetic, lively, and fun. This skilled and frequently fast-paced group performs once each year, and also travels to different after-school programs throughout the New Haven community to share their talent with members of the community. For the '97-'98 season, TAPS hopes to offer lessons for Yale students.

In an outreach effort, members of the Yale Hunger and Homelessness Action Project (YHHAP) and representatives from Yale's dance groups are planning a unique charity dance performance for late October or early November. Stand Up and Dance will incorporate dances from the five groups, and all proceeds will be donated to local charities, inlcuding City Spirit Artists, Inc., the New Haven Boys and Girls Club, the New Haven Homeless Resource Center, and the AIDS Interfaith Network. The organizers are seeking national sponsors for what promises to be a high- polished, exhilarating production.

But perhaps the greatest strength of dance at Yale lies in its pervasiveness. For those interested in just having fun, opportunities abound to stretch, move, glide, and step. The gym offers classes in ballet, modern, jazz, and African dance at varying levels. Ballroom dance classes are the most popular; these include standard ballroom (fox trot, rumba, waltz, swing) and also classes with a Latin focus.

Yale even has its own Ballroom Dance Club, which provides weekly classes for the Yale community and sends its members to competitions across the region. The theater studies department offers a movement class for its majors, and in the past two years, college seminars in advanced modern and repertory dance have also been offered. Students not afraid to wander off campus will find a wealth of dance options in New Haven as well. Signs are frequently posted advertising English or Scottish Country dancing and Contra dancing, often within walking distance of the Yale campus. And Naples and Toad's Place satisfy anyone seeking more of a club scene in which to hang out.

At a school renowned for its drama and a capella groups, dancers can rest assured that they, too, will find outlets for their talent and enthusiasm. Many of the dancers at Yale praised the multitude of opportunities at Yale to learn new styles of dance from fellow students and the chance to work closely with others who share a passion for dance. So leave your inhibitions at home, but be sure to bring your energy, your ideas, and of course, your happy feet.

Back to the Freshman Issue...