One of the university's most popular student groups, Tufts Dance Collective (TDC), has grown even more attractive this year, to the point where it has had to violate its original premise.
TDC in mid−September chose approximately 440 students to participate in 19 different dances for its fall performance scheduled for Dec. 4. But faced with ever−higher numbers of applicants, the club had to turn away between 75 and 100 interested students, according to TDC publicity head Rory Clark, a senior.
The dance club used to operate under the policy that all interested dancers, regardless of skill level, were welcome to participate. But the group, which last year was forced to reject some prospective members for both its fall and spring semesters, saw even greater demand this year.
"The situation is very bittersweet for us all," TDC co−director Safiya Bobb, a senior, said. "While we love having such a great turnout, it's simply impossible to accommodate everyone. Our policy is that anyone should be able to take part, whether they've been dancing since they could walk or if they've never danced before. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees this time."
In order to accommodate the increased number of students, the TDC Board is restructuring its application process and rehearsal protocol. The maximum number of dances in which students can participate has been decreased from three to two, although choreographers are allowed two dances in addition to the one they choreograph, according to Bobb.
Due to space constraints and fire code restrictions, TDC has capped each of its dances at 30 participants.
Clark said the decision to limit the total number of dances performed at the show was a necessary one.
"How many dances we offer is purely a function of the amount of time and space we can negotiate with others," she said. "But even if we could get a massive amount of space and unlimited time to rehearse, we wouldn't want to end up with a five−hour show. We're doing as much as we can to accommodate everyone, but ultimately, there are circumstances that are simply beyond our control."
For the first time, TDC has had to move some of its dance groups' rehearsals to the Aidekman Arts Center, although the high demand for practice rooms limits available practice time, according to Bobb.
While TDC has been experiencing steady growth over the past several years, members of the TDC Board said they were still unprepared for the unprecedented level of interest this year.
"This year started with our biggest general interest meeting yet," Clark said. "We managed to fill all of Cohen Auditorium, which came as a shock to all of us on the board."
Both Clark and Bobb credited word of mouth as the factor driving the increase in applications.
"Even before this year, you'd always have a friend or a hallmate in TDC who would encourage you to join or come to the show," Bobb said. "The fall is usually our slow season because freshmen usually don't apply until the spring, after they've seen our show."
Clark noted that the dance community at Tufts has, as a whole, seen increased interest in recent years. Other campus groups, including Spirit of Color, and newer clubs like Tufts Hip−Hop Club and Tufts Tamasha, have also experienced a corresponding rise in popularity, she said.
Students who were rejected from the dances to which they applied were told to contact TDC immediately if they still felt strongly about joining; those who expressed particular interest and enthusiasm were placed on a waitlist in case of openings.
Freshman Eloise Libre, a member of the Tufts Tap Ensemble, was among the many students left disappointed by TDC after being rejected by all three of the dances to which she applied.
"I've been dancing for 10 years now and I was really looking forward to joining TDC," she said. "I was pretty disheartened when I learned I couldn't participate, and I know I represent a majority here."
