Coming to a new school is overwhelming, and you might be wondering: how will I get my daily dose of culture when I have so much acclimating to do? Luckily, many of Tufts' performing arts groups will make an appearance during Orientation. Catch these talented troupes at First Night Celebration and at the O-Show.
First Night Celebration
By 6:30 p.m. tonight, you will have at least a couple of new friends, will have moved in and will be starting to get a feel for the campus. Therefore, you have no excuse to skip First Night Celebration on the President's Lawn. Added perk: checking out the residence of Tufts' new commander-in-chief, President Monaco.
Tufts Irish Dance Club: Comprised solely of students who have a background in competitive Irish dancing, the Tufts Irish Dance Group focuses on preserving traditional aspects of Irish culture and dance.
The Amalgamates: The Mates are the oldest co-ed a capella group at Tufts. To date, they have released 12 studio albums and have appeared multiple times on the Best of College A Cappella (BOCA) CDs.
Essence: After noticing a void in the Tufts vocal scene, a group of students came together in the 1990s to form the first incarnation of Essence, an all-female a cappella group specializing in music of the African diaspora.
Sarabande: The dancers in this group have backgrounds in everything from ballet to jazz to modern dance, and their different trainings ensure diverse and engaging pieces.
Spirit of Color: This dance troupe incorporates dance elements from hip-hop, contemporary and jazz. Each semester, the troupe showcases its dancers' choreography, as well as the work of other Tufts performing arts groups and those in the Boston area.
Shir Appeal: Founded in 1995, Shir Appeal is Tufts' only Jewish a cappella group. They have been featured on the BOCA CDs four times, and yes, they know "sheer" isn't really spelled that way. In Hebrew, their name means "Song of the Elephant," a salute to our beloved mascot, Jumbo.
Tap Ensemble: Celebrating both classical and rhythm tap, Tap Ensemble is Tufts' only performance group devoted exclusively to this dance form. Each semester, the group stages a show that features pieces choreographed, taught and performed by students. Tap Ensemble competes regularly at Tufts Best Dance Crew, and is also active in the greater-Boston tap scene.
The O-Show
As you might have already noticed, Tufts is a hotbed for talented musicians and has a particularly lively a cappella scene. The annual O-Show showcases these talents, and is certainly one of the highlights of orientation. In addition to featuring the music of the Amalgamates, Essence and Shir Appeal, the show will also include a few more groups.
Anchord: Tufts' Christian a capella group welcomes singers from all backgrounds and sings a variety of Christian songs. The group will occasionally "baptize" secular songs by rewording them with a Christian message.
Beelzebubs: In addition to finishing second on NBC's The Sing-Off in December 2009, the Bubs — an all-male a capella group — also provided song arrangements and vocals for the fictional Dalton Academy Warblers on the television series "Glee."
Jackson Jills: Founded in 1963, the Jills are Tufts' oldest all-female group. Their recordings have received many Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards and they always deliver on their promise to perform "cutting-edge a cappella."
S-Factor: The counterpart of Essence, S-Factor is an all-male a cappella group dedicated to genres influenced by the musical traditions of the African Diaspora, especially hip-hop, Gospel and R&B.
sQ!: Formed in 1994, sQ! is a co-ed a cappella group that performs everything from R&B to Dean Martin. The group has performed for schools throughout the country and in England, and was featured on the 2010 BOCA album.
