As the semester comes to a close and finals loom, the dance group Spirit of Color (SoC) is holding their fall show this week to lighten things up.
The group focuses predominantly on hip hop and jazz dance, but according to junior Enrique Novales, an assistant director and choreographer, the group has recently incorporated different styles such as flamenco, salsa and ballroom.
This year, the showcase is named "Evolution," a title that, according to junior director Stephanie Dres, reflects how the group has developed from their previous Spirit of Color shows.
Junior SoC member Elyse Weissman said this evolution could be a result of "new choreographers thinking outside of the box, as well as the amazing dancers."
"Evolution" will feature 19 dances and 60 dancers, both male and female. According to Dres, the dancers have to audition, as each choreographer has a specific vision of what his or her piece should look like.
Though each dancer becomes a part of the group once cast in a dance, Dres said that this constant auditioning promotes maintaining and perfecting technique.
The costumes and lighting constantly change throughout the 19 dances, making the show visually stimulating. Despite the incorporation of different musical styles, the choreographers each have a different take on the hip hop and/or jazz genres, ranging from break dancing to a lyrical, modern style. Costumes range from all-black ensembles to casual street wear, from doctor's scrubs to short-shorts and hoodies with knee socks.
Since this group consists of such a large number of dancers, it is unlikely audiences will grow weary of seeing one performer or one style of dancing.
Each brings his or her own strengths to the piece. The music is mostly hip hop and R&B, but look for an interesting cover of The Rolling Stones' "Paint it Black."
The music allows for fast and upbeat dancing, sometimes even pushing the boundaries of physical speed and movement.
There are also times when the dancers jump directly off the stage into the audience, creating an almost acrobatic vision of the dance.
The opening dance is a fun mix of hip hop music with impressive costumes, creative lighting techniques and fun interludes of play-acting.
This piece creates a sort of club atmosphere, drawing the audience into the dancing but also emphasizing the casual, entertaining feeling the group wishes to convey. This sets the tone for the rest of the concert, making the audience want to get up and dance to the music.
It is important to note that, while there is an abundance of traditional hip hop choreography, the show's creators find ways to shake up the genre.
Without giving too much away, the must-see piece contains an awakening of corpses in a morgue and a certain amount of hilarity that comes with watching dancers in scrubs.
Choreographer and publicist, senior Katelyn Giliberti, said the group wants to perform an upbeat show that showcases the camaraderie of the group as a whole.
According to Novales, another reason to come to the show is the unique blend of various styles and cultural elements that makes this Spirit of Color experience unlike any Tufts has ever seen.
Spirit of Color: Evolution has two show dates this week, the first tonight at 9 p.m. and the second on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 8 p.m., both in Cohen Auditorium. Tickets are $7 each and can be purchased at the Cohen box office.
