The SBU Hip-Hop Team hit The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts’ stage on April 28-29, taking attendees on a trip down the rabbit hole.
Bringing a modern twist to a classic tale, the team twirled, twerked and tapped its way through the events of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.
Starring junior English major Meghan Tederous as Alice, the performance began with a dream sequence, where Alice awakes from a strange daydream, finding herself in an unexplainable world of wonders.
As she travels through Wonderland, Alice meets a number of characters, including a talking caterpillar, played by sophomore biology major Nisha Patel, the Queen of Hearts, played by junior strategic communications major Krista Brower and the Cheshire Cat, played by a graduate student in the education department, Jessica Allen.
While students acted throughout the show, the main focus of the performance was the dances the team prepared for each scene.
Patel led a traditional Bollywood-style dance, while Brower took center stage, leading a deck of dancing cards in a Beyoncé-inspired hip-hop routine.
After the Queen of Hearts finished her routine, she ordered her entourage of cards to search Wonderland in the hope of finding Alice.
Meanwhile, Alice joined the Cheshire Cat, who led a group of cats in a feline-fueled performance full of acrobatics.
“I was a part of the Cheshire Cat’s crew,” freshman undeclared science major Michelle Beckett-Ansa said. “The preparations were intense. About a month before the show, we started practicing everyday—sometimes twice a day. In the end, it was rewarding and I got to know everyone so well.”
Once the kittens dispersed, Alice ran into the Mad Hatter, played by senior English major Jade Padula, and joined her for one of the 364 “unbirthday” parties of the year—celebrating with tea and dancing.
“My favorite scene in the show is the tea party,” Brower said. “I laugh every time, even though I’ve seen it a million times. Jade is the perfect person to play the Mad Hatter.”
The show’s climax began when the White Queen, played by junior education major Becca Gross, joined Alice in a dance battle against her sister, the Queen of Hearts.
In the end, the White Queen won her crown back and Wonderland’s peace was restored.
Students said they enjoyed watching the hip-hop team’s performances and members hope that students will feel encouraged to join the team.
“People should join the hip-hop team if they love to dance, love to perform and want to form great friendships,” senior history major and team coach Jacqueline Gertner said.
Team members said that a general understanding of dance is all it takes to get on the team, however, the most important thing is that members are dedicated to attending practices and working together.
“We would like to have as many people as possible join this upcoming year,” senior journalism and mass communication major Daseyann Taylor said. “With more talent, our dances will be even better than they already are. Choreographers, trained dancers and those who enjoy dancing for fun are welcome.”
