At “Where Fun Comes to Dance” on May 1, UChicago’s unofficial motto was turned on its head. Held annually at the Logan Center and hosted by the UChicago Dance Council, this year’s highly anticipated performance featured 13 dance RSOs competing for a panel of judges. The showcase galvanized the campus dance community, bringing together diverse styles and cultural dances, including swing, tap, contemporary, South Asian, African, and Latin American traditional dances—all on one stage.
From the beginning of the show, a vibrant cross-pollination of genres was evident. The groups embraced the liveliness of the event, juxtaposing their choreography with popular music. The Chicago Swing Dance Society did the Charleston to Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop.” University Ballet of Chicago (UBallet) performed en pointe to a medley of songs from Charli XCX’s Brat. Tap That! shuffled to Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ’Em.” The University of Chicago Ballroom and Latin Dance Association (BLDA) danced salsa to Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” All of the groups undoubtedly embraced a spirit of playfulness.
The energy at “Where Fun Comes to Dance” certainly lived up to its name. Tickets ran out the Sunday before the free event, prompting many enthusiasts to line up early for a spare seat. Students showed up in full force, armed with posters and loud cheers, to support their friends. The atmosphere was electric, with emcee Soraya Wilson energizing the crowd throughout the evening. Dancers thrived in the animated environment, and, for the several first-years interviewed, the event was an invigorating introduction to UChicago’s dance scene.
UChicago Maya won first place for their otherworldly and breathtaking performance. What at first began with Jadie Gonzales making ecstatic convulsions gave way to 30 dancers elegantly emerging on stage. The mesmerizing movement was ethereal, particularly during the sequence where dancer Elin Escobar Forsberg appeared to be floating on stage, lifted up by several members of the troupe.
Madeleine Hoffman, a dancer for UChicago Maya, said that being a part of the group was “a dream come true.” For her, the showcase brought together “the social aspect, movement, and… creativity of [dance].” Her favorite part of the event was waiting backstage, where she could share “smiles and positive energy” with members of the other groups.
In second place was Ex Crew, who fixated on the theme of female rage. The hip-hop group brought an exuberant energy with their in-sync moves and emotional edge. For them, the showcase was the culmination of a long and dedicated rehearsal process. For Manya Davis, the team “constantly [encouraged] me to not only step out of my comfort zone but [to] succeed in doing so.” Laya Raj agreed with how the crew “pushed [her] to explore sharper, stronger movement styles that are newer.” The razor-sharp moves do come at a cost, of course, but Davis credited the crowd’s enthusiasm for giving her a final push: “I could definitely feel the energy from the crowd and my teammates on stage, which made it an unforgettable experience.”
Placing third was the shuffling and flapping Tap That!, whose choreography to a compilation of country songs won the hearts of the judges. Not having placed since 2019, the group seemed particularly proud of their achievement.
Other performances were just as compelling. The crowd favorite K-pop group neXus Dance Collective brought their impeccable choreography on to the stage. Their dynamic dance mirrored the fiery tensions and playful chaos of a feisty friend group. Rhythmic Bodies in Motion performed a contemporary dance from their “Here, There, and Now” showcase, which focused on breaking toxic cycles.
Apsara brought classical South Asian dance to the stage. With highly technical moves and sound created with claps and chants, the group wowed the audience and lulled them into a trance. Raj, who is also a dancer for this group, commented that it “gives [her] a structured way to continue practicing classical Indian dance.” She added that she finds comfort in the group’s shared sense of South Asian identity.
The highlight of the event was, ironically, unchoreographed. While the dancers awaited the judges’ verdicts, Wilson called for music to break the silence, then tried to spark a conversation about highlights from each performance when none played. When the music suddenly came on, though, the performers did what they do best—dance.
Groove Theory broke the ice with a body isolation exercise. Later on, a dancer from the Chicago Swing Dance Society joined in with an intense voguing challenge. UBallet’s Sofia Grace Delgado tapped along in her ballet slippers with members of Tap That!. A dancer from Ankara Magic brought an Afrobeat rhythm alongside neXus’s K-pop choreography. Several dancers displayed their classic training by pirouetting across the stage. The climatic finale epitomized the performers’ ability to balance their talent with a sense of humor.
“Where Fun Comes to Dance” was a vibrant celebration of the eclectic and diverse dance groups at UChicago. For the audience members, there was no doubting the school’s ability to bring cheers.
