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`Though short and sweet, the MU Dance-Off was fun, fast-paced, and entertaining to watch and participate in, according to many of the dance.
Each dance group had to use their time wisely to show off what they could do in order to win the $100 prize being offered. First up was Expressions who, according to the Millersville website, was “formed to provide a dance-training program for those who have interest in the performing arts. Their goal is to perform and form a dance company here at Millersville University.” They started out with a strobe light flashing, outfits of black with neon colors throughout.
Their main styles of dance included hip-hop and tap and they performed two lifts and came off stage to take it up a notch. The crowd was loving it.
However, moves aren’t everything; timing helps too. They need to get more organized as a team and get on point.
Next up was Unpredictable Dance. On the website, this group is described as “providing students with the opportunity to express themselves through dance and helping to bring a unique essence to the community by including diverse membership and incorporating various genres of dance.”
They were dressed in pink and black, but each member had a different outfit.
Although the outfits were creative, viewers said they had a harder time focusing on the dancing because the costumes were so “out there.”
In contrast, this group had great choreography and timing. The costumes and dance style fit the name Unpredictable perfectly.
Up third was the MU Dance Team. By far the most coordinated team thus far in the competition; the MU Dance team did a dance incorporating throwing candy into the crowd while wearing MU’s black and gold.
The MU Dance Team, who won the competition, perform on stage. They danced to a montage of upbeat songs while throwing handfuls of candy to the audience. Photo by Christian Shuts.
They did a combination of hip-hop and ballet with leaps and the flexibility only present in that of a dancer. Many of the moves that they performed had the crowd cheering for more, and made them hard to look away from. Afterwards, MU Dance Team President, Julie Gudz, changed backstage for a second performance with the fourth and final group of the night – Essence Dance Group.
According to the MU website, “The purpose of Essence is to unite minority women through the performing arts. They dance at many campus and community events during the year.”
This group came out in jeans and black tops and had moves that other dance teams had not incorporated, making them fresh and new, despite the fact that they went last.
They pantomimed a bank robbery and had the group doing dance moves on the ground while the “robber” said “get down on the ground.” To get back up, they rolled backwards over their head onto their stomach as if it was nothing strenuous.
The whole event was incredible to watch. It was obvious the girls on each team had put in a lot of time and effort into each routine.
Though synchrony was shaky at times, each performance was well put together and very entertaining to watch. All four teams did very well and everyone could see the time and effort that went into planning the dances. After much deliberation, MU Dance Team won the $100 prize.
Freshman Danielle Farnell, of MU Dance Team, said, “We are trying to raise money to go to a competition in Florida. That’s what this money is for.”