Rhythmic Bodies in Motion (RBIM), a large and energetic dance RSO on campus, staged its annual showcase on April 12. Titled Here, There, Everywhere, the performance featured 19 numbers and a multitude of dance styles.
RBIM’s inclusive philosophy opens the door for different dance styles to flourish, from contemporary to jazz to Bollywood to ballet. Here, There, Everywhere led me from high-spirited pop dance numbers and kick lines to an awe-inducing technical University Ballet of Chicago exhibition.
Entering Mandel Hall, I smiled at my friends and the empty stage. We had all been anticipating our friend’s performance in Here, There, Everywhere for months. Small groups of students mirrored our excitement, huddling near each other.
My friend, first-year Genevieve Paul, stressed the preparation the company underwent as they worked toward the showcase starting in the fall. At the door, volunteers encouraged us to write congratulations to the dancers and choreographers on little sticky notes, creating a wall of well-wishes and love for the members of the company to see after the performance.
As the audience quieted down, RBIM leaders Chahak Pahwa and Siqi Xu walked onstage. To commemorate their final showcase as fourth-years, Pahwa and Xu delivered speeches expressing their gratitude for each other’s support over their college journeys and reminiscing on their shared love of dance.
Their touching and genuine speeches reminded me what an honor it is to witness live performances. Never again will this exact group of dancers and choreographers perform this show, hence the theme: Here, There, Everywhere.
“Here” was the first section of the performance. It reminded me to be present despite the natural human tendency to distract oneself with thoughts of the past and future. The section culminated in a solo performance by second-year Tirzah Cobb, set to “Anxiety” by Doechii. Cobb’s performance relayed the anxious feeling of being observed and trapped, intermixing lyrical and contemporary styles.
“There” shifted my focus from the present to reflect on the past and look forward to the future. It contrasted the anxiety of “Here” with a feeling of hope, exemplified by a performance of “Breezeblocks” by alt-J. Five dancers sharply performed Cobb’s choreography. Each dancer displayed different facial expressions reacting to the lyrics of the song. I could have rewatched the performance multiple times, trying to catch more of the little details.
“Everywhere” was the third section of the showcase, encapsulating the spirit of finality. I felt the overwhelming notion of the word “everywhere,” an all-encompassing term, in the power and presence of the dancers embracing a diversity of styles. One example was a high energy performance of “Breakin’ Dishes” by Rihanna, which embodied the song’s message of destruction while integrating elements of contemporary and lyrical dance.
The show ended with a full-company dance choreographed by Pahwa. I saw smiles across every dancer’s face as they looked from the audience to each other, justifiably proud of the work they had done for this showcase. The hip-hop style of the dance uplifted the energy of the room, and I was not only proud of my friend but happy to have witnessed this performance.
RBIM did an incredible job of interweaving styles and themes of diversity, power, and time. Here, There, Everywhere left me with excitement for next year’s showcase, alongside an already-growing nostalgia for this one.
