Alyssa VanPelt-Cathcart, Staff Writer
Welcome to the end of Fall 2024! The semesterly Terps show is back! Terpsichorean Dance Co, also known as Terps, hosts a dance show every semester. According to the Cambridge dictionary, “terpsichorean” is an adjective that means “relating to dancing.” This is quite fitting as Terps engages in a variety of dance styles and will have other dance groups participate throughout the show. The e-board of Terps includes Maya Johnson (president), Kaylee Thatcher (vice-president), Jessica Kaufer (secretary), Amani Rodriguez (treasurer), and Kayden Fastag (publicist).
The Fall 2024 theme for Terps is Terps Got Talent. This is a spin on America’s Got Talent, a popular competition television show that showcases a variety of talents. The show began with a scene of the e-board members acting out Americans Got Talent with their own spins. This scene follows the story of a women who somehow wins the golden buzzer despite not being very talented. The judge who mistakenly hit the golden buzzer then proceeds to train her for the final show. Throughout the scene, there is slap-stick humor and references to the original show. The opening dance follows the video scene. The opening dance contributed many “characters” you’d see on America’s Got Talent.
There were several dances spanning between large groups and small groups. One of the choreographers, Rudy Hess, a senior studying Geology and Geography, choreographed two dances. The first is Rush by Troye Sivan. Rush is a large group dance that was very entertaining and fun to watch. They wore athletic shorts, a silver top with a yellow fishnet cropped top over it.. They also wore silver star hair clips throughout their hair.
The second dance, Hess co-choreographed with Madison Knapp where they performed a duet to Falling Apart by Michael Schulte. Hess has been dancing for as long as she remembers, so she supposes she began when she was three years old. According to Hess, her favorite dance has been Rush, the dance she choreographed. However, she says, she loves “a good contemporary piece, whether it be by Celiann Soto-Davila, who choreographed Skyfall this year or by the alumnus who I’ve danced for such as Serena Zilinskas or a past President of the company, Emily Abramski.” When asked if she would continue Terps next semester and choreograph, she stated, “Yes, I can’t wait to see what our show is going to be next semester. I’m so excited to continue dancing with such amazing people. And yeah, I do plan on choreographing again; I have so many ideas for next semester.”
Terps is a fun community and so encouraging for new members, “anyone who is interested or has a love for dance should try-out! Even if it’s your first time dancing at auditions we just want people to come and have fun with us,” shared Hess. Hess has spent five semesters dancing for Terps. So, Hess, speaking from her time with Terps, states, “Terps is one big family and it is a support system as well. We are all here because we love to dance and it bonds us all together. Like any family we all have our differences but at the end of the day we are all here for and love each other. We just want to put on a great show for our friends and family and continue doing what we love.” Hess’s commitment to Terps has not gone unnoticed as many people are looking forward to her next dance in Spring 2025.
Rush is one of many of the exciting and emotional dances performed at this semester’s show. For the readers who have missed the performance, or are interested, visit Terps YouTube, @terpsichoreandancecompany where they will post the dances a few weeks after the initial performance.
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