Dancing to the tune of spring

Ellen Brylewski leads the team in “Single Ladies.” Photo Credit / Jamie Reese
Ellen Brylewski leads the team in “Single Ladies.” Photo Credit / Jamie Reese
Ellen Brylewski leads the team in “Single Ladies.”
Photo Credit / Jamie Reese

By Danielle Ertle

SC Staff Writer

The winter season left many of us tired and antsy. Endless days of boredom came from snow and harsh weather keeping everyone indoors.

However, spring has finally arrived, and the Contemporary Dance Team’s spring performance served as a fine way to celebrate the birth of the new season.

From March 27-29 , the dancers gave it their all after many long days of practice.

While each performance was unique, there were a few that kept close to the audience’s hearts.

The opening, “Love on Top,” featuring Beyonce’s music, began with the dancers dressed in crazy-patterned leggings and white tank tops moving to upbeat music.

The gestures consisted of a series of clapping hands, leg lifts, and jumping over chairs as a group of other girls continuously danced around them.

The second performance, “Bones” sung by Ginny Blackmore, had more of a slow, sad, and instrumental ambience.

The dancers’ movements were graceful, the continuous motion of their arms and turns captivating the audience’s attention.

Their movements communicated the dancers’ emotions, and if you listened to the song’s lyrics, they expressed the feelings of a love shattered by a man’s broken promises.

Every dance had something different about it, but the one thing the audience could see in all the performances was the passion and love they all felt on stage while they performed.

The team closed the show with a Beyonce medley. Photo Credit / Jamie Reese
The team closed the show with a Beyonce medley.
Photo Credit / Jamie Reese

Before intermission, audiences were treated to a rendition of “Same Love” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

The music began with a sad and instrumental melody, turning into a rap with a man shouting out rhymes and a woman singing.

The dancers shocked the audience by doing a series of barrel turns, leg lifts, and at least 10 pirouettes, all while standing in the same spot on stage.

Throughout the show, most of the performances were done in a modern setting, but“At Last” sung by Etta James, took a different approach.

The dancers wore short white dresses and red pointe shoes, similar to the movie “Red Shoes,” moving in slow and graceful manner.

The expressions on their faces appeared happy and content with good use of their arms, twirling their wrists in soft circles all the while on pointe.

A few more performances were shown before the big finale. It seemed to go on forever as at least three different songs were used with the whole stage crowded with the dancers as the audience clapped and cheered, yelling out each of the dancer’s names.

The shows were a success, as it was a delightful way to usher in spring.

Email Danielle at:

dertle@live.esu.edu