This past week on Tuesday and Wednesday, our very own SBU Dance Team performed our rendition of Back to the Future titled Back to Bonas. Here’s how I feel now that all of the work that went into the show now that after the whole semester was finally shown to the audience.
When I say dance was a huge part of my life this semester, I mean it. Most days of the week, and weekend, I had something to do that was dance-related… and I loved it. I was a part of six out of the ten dances we performed this semester and my days, especially Sundays, were spent in the Butler Basement.
Whether we were creating inside jokes, stretching, or practicing a log roll (yes, you heard that right, a literal log roll), I could always count on the people in the Butler Basement to lift my spirits. We worked together as individuals, in specific classes and as a collaborative team to not only grow the show into a beautiful, heartwarming, and hilarious production, but also to grow as friends.
When I arrived at the Quick Center on Tuesday at 5:30, which was absurdly early because I couldn’t contain my excitement at home sitting in my leotard and tights, I was greeted by my roommates, my role models, my teammates, and, best of all, my dance family.
We were all so eager to take photos in all of our costumes. To film TikTok’s for our social media. To sit on the stage and stretch to Cool Kids by Echosmith, Maria by Justin Bieber, and most importantly, The Riff Off from the Pitch Perfect soundtrack. The sound of all of our voices singing these iconic songs radiating throughout the Quick Center instead of the Butler Basement was what made it real for me.
This wasn’t my first show. It’s my fifth. Even though this is kind of a cop-out explanation, this one was just different. I was so truly proud of each individual person on the team and all of the work they had put in. My roommates are both on the leadership team for Dance Team with Riley being one of our co-captains and Ellie being one of our managers. The show that we were able to produce was due to largely their efforts in combination with our other co-captain and manager, Meg and Jamie. Knowing that they had worked so hard on even the smallest of details to make this show the show that was different, the show that brought everyone so close, made me feel overwhelming pride for them.
The slideshow displaying all of the members of the Dance Team started to roll and the cheers erupted and quite honestly, never stopped. From dance to dance, I didn’t even have to think to myself “Leah, smile, people are watching you” because, as grateful as I was that we had so many seats filled, I was just so happy to be performing on that stage with our team that I would’ve had that smile on my face even if the theater was empty.
Dances flew by and the next thing I knew, I was running on for bows, sandwiched in between Riley and Ellie. We all sat as a team while we gave thanks and then it was over. The fall semester SBU Dance Team production was over. I couldn’t have been happier with how perfect the show was because, truly, that’s what it was: perfect.
This Sunday, I have nowhere to be. I have no Musical Theatre class. No Extra Jazz class. I think it might feel so out of the ordinary for me to not be walking down into the Butler Basement at 2:45 pm that I might just go and lay on the floor and soak it all in. Or maybe, I’ll stay home and watch the dance show with my three most favorite roommates.