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This week, the Arts Council and the Robsham Theater Arts Center are hosting Boston College’s second annual Week of Dance. The week kicks off today, Monday, Nov. 28, with dance workshops for all students and comes to a close on Saturday, Dec. 3 with a collaborative performance by many of BC’s dance groups. This event will provide an opportunity for BC’s many dance teams and organizations to share their talent and love of dance with the BC community.
"Now in its second year, Week of Dance is a growing celebration of one of Boston College's strongest student communities," says Program Administrator, Sarah McDermott. "Students use this beautiful art form to express their culture, beliefs and personal styles but more importantly to bring people together. The Week of Dance workshops and showcases came out of a need expressed by the dance leaders themselves- they wanted to learn from and celebrate each other."
Tonight, Nov. 28, BC On Tap will hold the first of many workshops for the week. BC’s only tap dancing team will be on the Robsham stage from 5 to 6 p.m., sharing their knowledge of tap. Dance experience and tap shoes are unnecessary, as all Week of Dance workshops welcome students with little or no dance background.
Photo courtesy of BC Full Swing / Facebook
Students can also head to Brighton Dance Studio for more workshops tonight. From 6:15 to 7:15 p.m., the Dance Organization of Boston College will be sharing their passion for many different styles of dance. Those looking to “dance like a Bollywood star” can join Masti from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., and those interested in jazz can join Full Swing from 8:45 to 9:45 p.m.
Workshops will continue Tuesday in Brighton Dance Studio with Phaymus, AEROdynamiK, Boston College Dance Ensemble, Fuego del Corazón, and Conspiracy Theory. Students interested in hip-hop can join Phaymus from 5 to 6 p.m. or AEROdynamiK from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. for fun, high-energy workshops. Boston College Dance Ensemble will take the floor next from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., followed by Fuego from 8:45 to 9:45 p.m. and Conspiracy Theory from 10 to 11 p.m.
On Saturday, PATU, BC’s African Dance Group, will be hosting a workshop in Robsham from 1:30 to 2:30pm. This workshop will allow students to get a taste of African Dance in a relaxed, fun-filled environment.
All workshops, with the exception of Fuego’s, are free of charge. Fuego, inspired by last year’s DSTRONG Campaign, will be charging $5 for admission and donating all proceeds to the Leaving a Mark Foundation. Leaving a Mark is a book that offers hope and comfort to children facing cancer; students’ entrance fees will go toward buying copies of this book to distribute at local hospitals.
The Week of Dance will end with a Dance Showcase in Robsham Theater on Friday and Saturday featuring 12 of BC’s very own dance groups. The show starts at 7 p.m. both nights, and tickets can be purchased at the Robsham Box Office or on the RTAC website for $10.
Photo courtesy of Boston College Irish Dance Club / Facebook
The showcase is a rare opportunity for different groups with very different dance styles to perform in a show together, centered around their love and appreciation for dance. The groups performing in the showcase are PATU, DOBC, F.I.S.T.S., Golden Eagles, Boston College Irish Dance, Dance Ensemble, Full Swing, Fuego del Corazón, Sexual Chocolate, On Tap, Phaymus, and Masti.
Week of Dance is a time for students to celebrate dance at Boston College, whether they are dance team captains, have never danced a day in their lives, or fall anywhere in between. The Gavel reached out to a few dancers at BC to find out what Week of Dance means to them.
Elena Akins (Fuego), MCAS ’19, responded, “Week of Dance is a great opportunity for all of BC’s dance teams to showcase their unique styles and abilities. It gives the rest of the student body the chance to learn about the variety of dance styles represented at BC and push beyond their comfort zones through the workshops offered.”
Caroline Dorko (Dance Ensemble), CSON ’19, said, “Week of Dance is so special because it's a great way to celebrate how all of the arts, especially dance, play a huge role in the lives of so many BC students. There are so many talented dancers and ensembles at BC. We truly are [lucky] to [be able to] collaborate and showcase all of the hard work and diverse skills of all the different groups.”
Kristina Major (DOBC), MCAS ’19, added, “To me, Week of Dance is an opportunity to show the whole BC community the impact that dance has had, not only on me, but on all people. Dance is a universal language, and Week of Dance shows people who are unfamiliar with the art the ways in which it connects and touches everyone. I've dedicated my whole life to expressing myself through dance, and I'm so grateful that BC's Week of Dance gives me a chance to show my friends and peers how much it means to me.”
Avid optimist who likes long walks on the beach with a Long Island bagel and iced coffee in hand. As my favorite man Drake once said, "I swear this life is like the sweetest thing I've ever known."
