By Morgan Hunter
Contributing Writer
The stands shook, the audience roared and the applause lasted late into the night. This past Sunday, April 21, the crowds could not get enough of Chasing International Dance Team’s Spring Showcase in Timken Gymnasium. The audition dance organization, well-known for its performances at campus-wide events such as the Culture Show and most recently at halftime during the World Cup Finals game, has been working tirelessly this semester to assemble a showcase of twenty different dance pieces. With everything from solos to large group pieces and even some special surprise guest performances in a variation of dance styles, Chasing’s Spring Showcase was the powerhouse event of the weekend. Missed out on all the fun? Here’s what you need to know:
Chasing International Dance is a well-oiled machine when it comes to dance, both in instruction and in performance. The night kicked off with a high-energy full dance piece choreographed to the song “Con Calma” by Daddy Yankee. Chasing is proud to be an organization that provides space for those interested in learning already choreographed dances from big names and for others who find themselves wanting to write original choreography for their peers. The evening also featured performances from the K-Pop Dance Group, a collection of students passionate about K-Pop dance and attending weekly workshops that often teach a different song each week.
A wide range of performance groups and sizes took the stage one after another for the nearly two-hour performance. Stand-out solos included Maura Ellenberger ’25, dancing to “All Things End” by Hozier and Luna Gao ’25, with “cult leader” by KiNG MALA, both of which were choreographed by Chasing alumnus and Dance Department Intern Liv Mourning ’22. Chasing boasts a wide range of styles of dance, most often influenced by “reggaetón, jazz funk, flash mob, stiletto, hip-hop,” according to their informational webpage, but are always welcome to new contributions. This proved true as pieces ranged from modern contemporary to South African and even musical theater-inspired styles.
Audiences were certainly not left out of the fun! In between many of the dances, those in attendance were led through dances, allowing them to catch the dance bug from the safety of their seats. The teaching groups taught the audience different dances to songs such as “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars and “La Vaca” by Mala Fe. One student, Lily Bulman ’25, shares her experience as a first-time attendee: “[The Chasers] all brought different styles to Chasing which was interesting, but it was also clear that they were part of the overall Chasing aesthetic.” Needless to say, Chasing International Dance knows how to attract an audience and keep them coming back.
While performances of this caliber are electric, a lot of planning and team building goes into the preparation process. New this year, members practice for around six hours a week. Nachi Goto or Destination Chaser ’25, who was off campus last semester, agreed that this change made a “huge difference in the quality of our performances.” The administrative side is also a gigantic undertaking that students balance along with rehearsals, classes and other obligations. “It’s a lot of collaboration between the board, especially among our social media team. Planning Showcase is always stressful but being able to dance with my teammates makes it all worth it,” says Ellenberger, one of the co-captains this year with the name of Sexy Chaser.
While it is always sad to see another year of Chasing International Dance draw to a close, many can celebrate knowing that this is far from the end of Chasing. After nearly dying out over the pandemic, Chasing now is a thriving organization, gearing up to welcome new members again this upcoming fall. Keara Wiley ’26, or Sporty Chaser, summarizes Chasing perfectly by saying, “From hearing about when this organization started to now, I feel like and hope Chasing will never lose its roots as being a bunch of friends that just want to space dance.”
For more information on Chasing International Dance, find them on social media at @chasingintldance or on their official website. Also, be sure to catch their next performance at Scot Spirit Day 2024!
