A soft sound is heard, followed by a louder one and then silence. The audience stares at the stage as the lights dim. The music commences once again, while the arena fills with anticipation and the audience is brought to another world as strobe lights, backdrops and an abundance of energy create a convincing ambiance. The dancers enter the stage, donning similar outfits and boasting incredible dancing moves. In a word: Sheba.
Hip-hop dance group Sheba's energetic performance at Leede Arena on Saturday evening was certainly one of their hottest shows all year. As spectators filed into the bleachers of Leede, it was clear that everyone had come to see Sheba's biggest and best performance of the year. "The Experience," as it was titled, represented the culmination of a year's worth of work and practice. The hard work and dedication had paid off.
The show began with a journey into the minds of the Dog Day Players. Members of the comedy troupe set the stage for Sheba's performance in a hilarious video escapade of laughter, sex and entertainment. The comedy routine soon led its way into the first dance, and would continue to enliven the performance until the last number.
Sheba's opening dances began with the fast-paced, energy-filled dancing for which the group has become well known. Everything was perfect, from the dancing and interaction to the determination and strength of each number. Among the best dances of the performance were routines set to Missy Elliot's "Get Ur Freak On" and Jennifer Lopez's "I'm Real," as well as an entertaining rendition accompanied by Madonna's "Music."
With over 26 dance numbers and a countless number of costume changes and sleek maneuvers, every part of Saturday night's performance was well planned.
Each member of Sheba exuded such a high degree of expertise that it seemed as if one was watching a musical on Broadway. The most amazing part, though, was Sheba's devotion, an insurmountable level of confidence and love for dance that is often hard to find.
Throughout Sheba's performance on Saturday, it was clear that the show was dedicated to the senior class and those who have been an important part of Sheba since the group's founding in 1995. The graduating members of Sheba were the stars of the show, though the underclassmen lit up the stage with their incredible dance steps and charisma as well.
It was an emotional event for the seniors since the performance will be their last with the group before graduation. The seniors -- Hyung Cho, Thomas Kim, John Lee, Wendy Liu, Deirdre Lum, Adrianne Nelson and Kelly Ja'Nise Smith -- each had a small spotlight section during the final moments of the performance, a time when they were given the chance to show off their best moves.
Saturday night was more than a performance for current members. Alumni from past years were invited back to Dartmouth to watch and take part in Sheba's performance. Numerous shout-outs were given to the alumni, many of whom traveled from across the country to see the performance, incuding several founding members
From the first dance number to the finale, Sheba's performance this past Saturday was truly a memorable event. A show that encompassed a variety of musical genres and hip-shop numbers, "The Experience" was definitely a great way to say farewell to the spring term.
Sheba has proven to the Dartmouth community that with a little elbow grease, tons of determination and a strong love for dance, a group of students can come together and create magic in a way that all can relate to.