BAS, BDW host first annual Dance Fest

Pitt students got their groove on Monday night at the first annual Dance Fest, held in the… Pitt students got their groove on Monday night at the first annual Dance Fest, held in the William Pitt Union Assembly Room.

The Dance Fest, co-sponsored by the Black Action Society and the Black Dance Workshop, gave members of the Workshop an opportunity to showcase their talents in a variety of dance styles. The group presented three 45-minute shows at 7, 8 and 9 p.m.

“This is basically a dance event with a bunch of different dance styles,” said Catherine Acquah, performer and Workshop’s public relations director.

Dancer Maria Nicole Smith thanked the students for coming out, despite the fact that now is a busy time of the year.

“Thank you for coming,” she said. “I know a lot of people have midterms and papers and I know it cost $3.”

The money students paid to get into each of the three Monday night shows went toward raffle prizes like free tickets to the BAS fashion show and to the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company show.

The dance numbers featured the Black Dance Workshop performing a gospel-style dance to “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” which had the performers dressed in black and white “church clothes.”

Other dances included a driving hip-hop/break dance and an expressive/hip-hop/R’B dance to Janet Jackson’s “What About That,” the same routine the Black Dance Workshop did at this year’s Take Back the Night program. The dance expressed the effects abusive relationships have on women.

The student dance group Raw Talent contributed to the show with their pure hip-hop style.

The somewhat sparse audience at the 7 p.m. show got quite involved in the performance. Students clapped along with the dancers during the gospel dance and screamed their appreciation for quick, smooth movements of Raw Talent.

During a break in the action, Kierstin Homblette, of the Student Government Board-sponsored Get Out the Vote, urged students to vote in Tuesday’s midterm elections.

“I came out tonight because elections are tomorrow and I knew that a lot of people would be out here,” she said.

Homblette said that her appearance at the Dance Fest wasn’t planned, she just attended and used the audience to get the voting message across.

Pitt student Michelle Turbanic said she was impressed by the performance.

“Oh, it was fantastic,” she said. “The Janet Jackson song, it was really powerful.”

Acquah also said the performance pleased her.

“I think it went wonderful,” she said, “and it had a better turnout than I expected.”

Both Acquah and Turbanic said they are looking forward to the Black Dance Workshop’s full performance, slated to take place sometime at the end of March or beginning of April.

“I can’t wait till the full show,” Turbanic said.