On the Radar: Expressions Dance Company

April 14, 2006. 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Lowell Lecture Hall. Tickets available through the Harvard Box Office, (617) 495-2222.



Let’s try a quick multiple choice question. “Booty Booty Booty Booty Rocking Everywhere,” is: a) the chorus of the popular Bubba Spraxx featuring the Ying Yang Twins song “Ms. New Booty,” b) something you can expect in the spring Expressions show, “Bassline,” or c) both of the above.

c) is, of course, the correct answer, but “Bassline,” the annual spring show by the Expressions Dance Company, will be about much more than booty shaking. Using a combination of jazz, modern, lyrical, and hip hop, the Expressions Show promises an extremely energetic showcase of student choreography and talent.

This year’s show has concentrated on what Expressions does best. The music styles will include hip hop, jazz, lyrical and funk, a diversity many dancers point to as the strength of the show. In contrast to other student dance groups that specialize in one form of dancing, Expressions utilizes nearly every genre in its performances.

What the Expressions dancers don’t perform, other groups do. Expressions shows usually feature the Caribbean Club Dance Troupe (CCDT). This show will not only feature performances by members of CCDT, but also dancers from the Pan African Dance and Music Ensemble, a relatively new group on campus that learns and performs dances from the range of African dance and music styles. Beyond campus groups, children from Jamnastics, a local Boston area group, will also perform during the spring show.

The lyrical piece is always a major focus of the Expressions show, and this year is no different. Elisabeth C. Michaud ’09, and choreographer for the lyrical piece noted that “it’s very soulful and hits everyone on a different level.” Fans of the 80s and 90s may well enjoy what seems to be a tribute to New Edition and as dancers exuberantly perform to “Cool it Down,” “Poison,” and “My Prerogative.”

“Bassline” will also be a bittersweet moment for many seniors who have come to define the company as they perform in their last Expressions show. Still, dancers like Alana V. Davis ’06 are eagerly looking forward to tonight’s performance. An Expressions dancer since her freshman year, Davis reflects that “[the] Expressions show will be a tremendous display of various dance styles and people. That’s the best part of it, the people, because they show they’re having fun.”

—Kimberly D. Williams