The bleachers are packed, the lights are low, and the music…well, it’s turned all the way up! The stage was as colorful and vibrant as the performer’s costumes, and the moves were hot enough to melt the ice of Kelly Rink. The evening was a collection of new additions and old favorites. Presented by the AHANA Leadership Council, the event was packed with hair whipping, hard hitting, pulse raising , intensity. Bringing culture from all around the world to one stage, the event is always a sure sellout. Thousands of students strolled into Conte Forum Saturday night to see the Campus’ greatest dance groups kick, flip, jig, but most of all Throwdown to be crowned the campus’ best crew. Danza Kuduro drowns out conversations as the stage is set, but the phenomenon known as Lil Phunk soon left the crowd speechless.
Old Faves
Lil phunk- Don’t be fooled by these 6-13 year olds’ little bodies, they beast out BIG TIME day in and day out as the Official Junior Dance team of the NBA Boston Celtics. The precocious performers paired up with past contestants of America’s Best Dance Crew, pulling attendants from their seats into applause, as the pros and pre-teens taught BC How to Dougie. Lil’ Phunk who also opened Showdown the past two years, then stole the show with their own performance. Letting the talents and technique of their dancers show, the dancers shined in solos, interspersed between the intricately choreographed group routine. Lil’ Phunk is always a crowd favorite, eliciting squeals and cheers, a BIG favorite that never gets old.
Fuego- Slinky Costumes, sultry steps, and so much more! Fuego was the fiery finale to this year’s Showdown and the 2nd place winner for 2012 Best Dance Group, and along with Synergy, the Latin dance troupe seems to be a frontrunner every year. Adding more thematic elements, with the court room conviction of “not being sexy”, the ladies dazzled in their dark beaded dresses, and the men look sharp in their slacks, and proved their accusers wrong. They also proved along with their sex appeal, they can maintain their tremendous commitment to technique with difficult lifts, and legwork. You go Fuego!
Sexual Chocolate- This all men’s step-team provided a much needed dose of testosterone to the ALC showdown. With stern stomps and shouting, Sexual Chocolate brought the same military precision BC student’s have come to love, but with a twist: a story line, Toy Story to be exact. Sexual Chocolate changed the game, with their well thought out plot, movie voice-overs from Woody and Buzz Lightyear, and simple, but effective set. The costumes injected just a hint of humor, Little Bo Peep and the Aliens were among the cast. Dancers always strive to use their bodies as tools to tell a story, and sexual chocolate told one entertaining (Toy) Story!
New Age
Uprising- Uprising is a new crew to campus, making their debut at the ALC Showdown 2012. Not only did Uprising show up to Showdown, they rose to the top: winning First Place in the Best Cultural Dance Category! Using the Broadway Play The Wiz as the theme for the new-age hip-hop routine, Dorothy and the rest of the cast danced their way down the yellow-brick road, and into the hearts of the audience. Captivated by the gravity bending leaps, and cheeky costumes, Uprising left the crowd buzzing and wanting more.
Format- The best addition to the ALC Showdown 2012 was the format. Much more concise, the transitions were executed with the same precision of the dancers. The Showdown organizers did a great job of eliminating the down time between acts by filming previews of the individual groups. Giving a more intimate look into what Showdown means for each group, spokespeople from each team spoke about which charity the group is giving back to. In addition to the new format, the new videography was certainly a great addition. Close-ups of the emotion of each move, and the quickness of each step was magnified by showing the performance on the Jumbotron, putting the show is showdown.
BC ID- BC ID is a force to be reckoned with on campus, their individual showcase in Robsham is often standing room only, and the performance is always worthy of a standing ovation. Bringing their fans onto the edge of their seats as they dance on the tips of their toes. Moving as light as air across the stage, the dancers of BC ID made each elevation look effortless. The integration of Irish culture and tradition along with the playful theme of ballet vs hip-hop showcased the depth of talent within the team. BC ID may be new to Showdown but they proved that they are the real deal!