Author: Katherine Lonsdorf
It’s that time of year again. Dance Production will make its way to Thorne Hall this Friday and Saturday, boasting the usual diverse range of acts the size and scope of a Broadway musical.
Dance Production is annually one of the most popular and widely attended events on campus. This year, there will be two shows held in Thorne Hall on Friday, March 23 and Saturday, March 24, both at 7 p.m. With 17 different dances, ranging from hip-hop to ballet, African to hula, and tango to Tahitian, the diversity of the acts is staggering.
Almost 200 Oxy students have been involved with the show in some way, with planning beginning the first week of school in August. Choreographers auditioned in September and dancers were placed in their dances in October, with many students taking on multiple dances. The entire show is student run, from the performance itself, to ticket sales, t-shirt designs and practice schedules.
“Choreographers spend hours preparing for their practices and attending weekly meetings, and dancers dedicate no less than two hours a week per dance,” Dance Production co-president Maya Tatsuno (senior) said. “I guess it really just shows the dedication of Oxy dancers.”
While it seems that each person involved in Dance Production has come for a different reason, it’s that dedication that really makes the whole show unique. “I’ve thought about choreographing after Oxy, so this is not just about fun for me – it’s about a career,” Allison Truscheit (junior) said.
Truscheit hopes the popularity of Dance Production will encourage the administration to reinstate academic credit for the show.
“I always hope after Dance Production that the administration will say, ‘You’re right, dance is important at Oxy, I think we should have a minor,'” she said.
Teddy Zou (sophomore), one of the choreographers for a salsa piece in the production, is using the show to exhibit a passion he discovered during his last two years at Oxy.
“I got into salsa dancing in the Spring of 2006, right here in Oxy’s Salsa Club. I actually never thought that I would be any kind of dancer before, but salsa has really become one of my passions. I saw dance production as a chance to share my interest and appreciation,” he said.
The dancers have varying levels of experience. Some, like Jessica Snyder (sophomore), have danced in the show before and are taking on multiple dances to showcase their enthusiasm. Others had never even danced before trying out, like Eliza Callwood (sophomore), who was inspired by the show she saw last year on campus.
The months leading up to the production have not been entirely smooth. The biggest problem has been the lack of practice space due to an overbooked and unavailable dance studio. As a result, practices were cut short and moved to ill-equipped spaces, like lower Herrick and sometimes even residence halls. Some dancers didn’t get the chance to practice in the studio until as late as last week, a mere two weeks before performance.
But conversations have been started to resolve the issue, and dances are still going strong despite the setback. “We have recently begun seeking support from the Dean, President, and other members of Oxy’s administration, and we hope to get these problems worked out in future years,” Tatsuno said.
The hefty amount of funds required complicates the event. With a budget encompassing the rental of Thorne Hall, ticket printing, ushers, costumes, equipment, and videotaping, Dance Production comes with a big price tag. Each year, the cost rises by a couple hundred dollars, requiring the club to rely on ticket sales and help from other organizations.
“This year, we would not have been able to run the show without the generous assistance from the ASOC/Senate,” she said.
But now, going into tech week, everyone is more committed than ever. With rehearsals every day until midnight, the crew is in for the final haul. “We practically live in Thorne Hall,” Snyder said.
It’s all working up to this weekend, when a hopefully large percentage of the Oxy community and others will come out and support all the hard work. For many who participate in the show, Dance Production represents one of the cornerstones of Oxy’s mission in diversity, and the show is a way to emphasize that.
Mara Hosoda, who is choreographing a Tahitian piece, stressed that thought. “Dance Production promotes a unified diversity. Student performers are able to try new dance styles and performance; student audience members support and cheer on their peers. It is a celebration of diverse ideas, dances and people coming together to present one unified show.”
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