Adagio Dance Company, Brandeis' largest student-run dance group, presented its annual spring show, "Dance For Your Life," last Wednesday and Saturday nights in Levin Ballroom. On both nights, the venue was packed with the performers' friends and families, who eagerly cheered and snapped photographs throughout the night.

"Princesses on Fire," the club's most psychedelic number, kicked off the club's performance. This first dance paid tribute to the mash-up artist Pogo's remixes of Disney film soundtracks that went viral on the Internet in 2010.
Costumed like Snow White, Cinderella, Belle and the like, the girls took the audience through a Disney princess evolution, moving slowly and politely at first, and then progressing into fierce hip-hop.

Following the girliness of the first number, the boys took the stage with Justin Timberlake's newly released "Suit & Tie" track from his new album, The 20/20 Experience. Shaquan Perkins '13 dominated the stage in his red-hot polo. He shook his groove thing so well that it was hard to stay glued to the seats in Levin Ballroom.

The more upbeat dances of the program especially represented the best of what Adagio has to offer. In the second act specifically, dances choreographed by Samantha Cortez '13, "Let's Get To It" and "Let's Go" (also choreographed by Amanda Reuillard '13), made the spring show worth attending. Both hip-hop numbers let the dancers show off their rhythm and sharpness.

But that's not to discount Adagio's lyrical dance, a type of dance that blends elements of ballet and jazz and is all about connectivity of movement. The freshmen dancers of this style almost stole the show. Aya Abdelaziz '16 commanded attention with her graceful strides in the two acts she was in, "Inscriptions" and "Your Guardian Angel." Allie Lawsky '16 danced like a veteran in "Feel Again," choreographed by Andrea Katz '14. Rounding out the troupe of standout freshmen was Bronte Velez '16 and Arnold Barbeiro '16, who choreographed his own dance called "Cardboard Box" in Act One, which told the story of unrequited lovers and their haunting memories.

For a dance company whose namesake is "Adagio," a musical term that denotes a slow and stately-literally meaning "at ease"-tempo, many of the dancers were too polite in their movements during the slower dances.

Lyrical dance, which requires emotional focus, usually attracts passionate dancers who want to express themselves to the crescendo and diminuendo of a certain song. The opposite of this is mechanical, memorized dancing, which some dancers performed. The hip-hop numbers eclipsed some forgettable, too-gentle adagio ones.

That being said, Morgan Conley '13 choreographed "Joy," in which she and her dancers, part of the Adagio Dance Ensemble, gave the choreography the goosebump-worthy performance it deserves. The dance ensemble within Adagio requires an audition, and its members tellingly represent a more advanced background in dance, as well as a greater time commitment to the art.
Besides Conley, the group's talented, expressive members include: Taylor Lombard '13, Jess Urbach '15, Jamie Robbins '15, Gabriella Velonias '15, Agnes Baldenweck '15, and Bronte Velez '16. The group danced chillingly to a second number, a rendition of "Hallelujah," choreographed by Adagio co-president, Taylor Lombard.

Adagio ultimately gave a tireless and fun performance, all the way to the end of the show. From "Claque Kaduro," a tap-dancing salsa number choreographed by Sara Lodgen '14 and Karina Gaft '14, to the closing "Some Nights," choreographed by Taylor Lombard '13 as her senior thesis, the show never showed signs of slowing down.

Although the club is losing much of its executive board come graduation, the underclassmen, especially the freshmen, proved capable of keeping the momentum going. I look forward to Adagio's future shows.
*