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As a new club, Synchromotion, dances its way onto campus, president Shanae Moore ’07 (Magnolia, N.J.) is shaking things up and organizing innovative events.
The most highly anticipated one, “So You Think You Can Dance?” will take place 9 p.m. Friday in the Farinon Center Atrium. Modeled after the Fox TV series, the event will feature dance contestants, a panel of judges, a guest choreographer, performances by Synchromotion, and a dance party after the contest that is scheduled to last until 1:30 a.m. The event is also sponsored by Nia, Recreation Services, and the Arts Society.
The Lafayette Leopards Dance Club – since renamed – was officially approved as a club sport/performance group last spring. The group complements organized dance opportunities such as master classes taught by visiting artists at the Williams Center for the Arts; the Dance Team; the Marquis Players spring musical; and recreation services’ introductory classes for country line, modern, jazz, Latin, African, and ballroom dance, as well as beginner and intermediate classes in Latin, jazz, ballet, swing, and hip hop.
Mechanical engineering majors Lindsay Hannum ’07 (North East, Md.) and Jill Bisplinghoff ’07 (Rye, N.H.) started organizing the club in fall 2004. Both met with Allison Blatt, operations director of the Williams Center and director of the Arts Society, to set their ideas in motion. They decided to form a group where experienced student dancers could teach others how to dance a specific style.
“I got involved because I have a strong desire to continue dancing,” says Moore, a psychology major who started dancing at age 13. She is trained in jazz and hip-hop, tap, ballet, and lyrical.
The group is open to anyone interested in learning more about dance. During its first semester, Synchromotion taught “Stretches, Jumps, and Turns,” tap, modern, and jazz/hip-hop. Other types of dance offered include ballet, lyrical, and musical theater. Last semester, the group also performed during the International Student Association Extravaganza.
This year, enrollment is up to over 60 students, says Moore, and the group performed Sept. 17 at the annual Homecoming Block pARTy. Moore choreographed a number with the Jennifer Lopez song “Get Right.”
She teaches the jazz/hip-hop class, which includes turns, leaps, kicks, and jumps during the jazz section. The hip-hop section focuses on isolating body parts, including head, shoulders, hips, and rib cage. She also teaches attitude walks and other dance moves.
“Every class is different and is based on the instructor’s style and technique,” she says.
Moore also is active in campus life as a performer with the Dance Team and Concert Choir, resident adviser, student ambassador for the Lafayette College Annual Fund, Activities Planning Council publicist for Association of Black Collegians, and member of the Nia multicultural women’s group. She will continue her studies in England next semester.
“I would really like to see this organization have a professional choreographer as our official coach,” she says. “I would love to come back as an alumna and see Lafayette College have a strong dance program.”