With final exams just a Quad Run away, it would seem as if most of the student performance organizations have already had their final shows of the semester. sQ! rocked Hotung a few weeks ago with its last stage show, and Sarabande's Supershow is a distant memory. Things in the Jackson Dance Lab, however, are just starting to heat up with Tufts Dance Collective's (TDC) "When Worlds Collide," a diverse performance that ends this semester with an exclamation point.
Just three years ago, TDC had less than 35 members and was struggling to gain respect on a campus dominated by such talented dance troupes as Spirit of Color and Sarabande. Finding adequate rehersal space and time during Jackson Gym's busy schedule was always a challenge, with time slots restricted to "P.E. time" and "Dance time."
Now, with over 70 dancers and a declared truce with the men's volleyball club team, TDC is a force, and its semester-ending shows are gaining the reputation as energizing performances that feature a healthy, eclectic mix of ballet, modern, tap, hip-hop, and breakdancing. Co-artistic director Alysse Wurcel, who shares the duties of Artistic Director with Meredith Kormes, credits the newcomers to this year's success: "I think it's wonderful because we have so much new freshman talent." Despite its growth, TDC has not lost sight of its orginal ideals for membership, which does not require an audition. "It's all about having fun," Wurcel said, "That sounds so corny, but..."
"But we try to have people from all levels," added senior choreographer Melissa John, "and both genders, and that makes for a very fun atmosphere."
This year's show provides a good sampling of TDC's wide variety of talents. The program fluctuates from animated numbers such as a Backstreet Boys/Brittany Spears combination by Assistant Artistic Director Jolene Stewart and Leslie Kung, to more poetic acts such as Amadeus' "The Search," choreographed by Jeanette Bailey. Heather Barondess and Jess Cannon re-live Spring Flings of years past, as Barondess has organized a peppy tap dance to the Cherry Poppin' Daddies' "Zoot Suit Riot," while Cannon's "Scenario" by Tribe Called Quest is a tightly-performed hip-hop ensemble.
TURBO's act in the program is absolutely a must-see; the members electrify the stage with their freestyle breakdancing. Patrick Girvin and Sarah Booth are responsible for "Rainbow Vibe," an engaging show-stopper danced to a medley of Fatboy Slim and Dune. Acts such as these really benefit from the intimate setting of the Jackson lab which, according to Wurcel, "lets the dancers interact with the audience."
The lab has a tendency to fill up quickly for the free show, so arrive early. Latecomers might find themselves seated on the floor at the front of the performance space, and could be subject to the impromptu audience involvement for which TDC members are so well known. There will be three performances: Friday at 8 p.m., and Saturday at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
