Summer performance groups at Dartmouth offer a unique and enriching experience for sophomores, providing an opportunity to build both individual skills and a sense of community. These groups, which include dance, a capella, and theater ensembles, host open auditions early in the term, inviting students from diverse backgrounds to join for the summer. This year, a record number of students auditioned, with some groups welcoming nearly 60 new members. For full-year members, summer represents a chance to teach, share, and engage with a creative and entertaining space, often with a twist on the original group's name and traditions. For instance, the dance group 'Fusion' becomes 'Fission', 'Razz' becomes 'Razzbery', and so on, each with its own unique hand signs. Similarly, a capella groups like 'Brovertones' become 'Stepbros', 'Dodecaphonics' become 'Summerphonix', and 'Subtleties' become 'Doms'. Sketch comedy group 'Can’t Sell Culture' transforms into 'Can’t Rent Culture', and improv groups 'Casual Thursday' and 'Dog Days' become 'Summer Casual Thursday' and 'Dog Days of Summer', respectively.
The majority of these dance and performing groups will be performing at StreetFest on Saturday, July 18, an annual fundraiser hosted by fraternity Phi Delta Alpha. The proceeds from the event will be donated to WISE, a charitable organization dedicated to eliminating gender-based violence in the Upper Valley. For students like Crystal Wang '28', a full-year member of 'Sheba' and co-summer director of 'Shebalite', summer dance has been a fun and rewarding experience. Sheba, primarily a hip-hop group, creates its own choreography, costumes, and music mixes for their shows. The connections made through Sheba have been invaluable, including with alumni who have since graduated.
Wang appreciates those who step out of their comfort zones to join these groups, citing the creation of meaningful communities from trying something new. She believes that immersing oneself in a new environment can be daunting, but dance groups provide a microcosm where people can explore different aspects of themselves. For the directors of 'Fission', refining dances to suit the program is crucial. Co-director Camille Weinstein '28 mentions making turns more accessible and creating Fission-specific dances for beginners.
Fission offers social events like pizza-making at the Dartmouth Organic Farm, formals, and events co-hosted with other dance groups. At StreetFest, they will perform six dances with a 'Teen Beach' theme, with 'G6' being a crowd favorite. For the contemporary, lyrical, and jazz group 'Sugarplum', summer offers a shift towards more hip-hop styles, making it easier for beginners. The group currently has nearly 40 members, up from 25 during the full year.
Co-summer director Paulina Fomicheva '28 enjoys teaching people who have never danced before and introducing them to the dance community. During StreetFest, Sugarplum will dance to various upbeat pop songs with a 'Mean Girls' theme, aiming to boost people's confidence. Avery Aaronson, co-director of 'Ujimelt', emphasizes the group's focus on creating a sense of community. Ujimelt's StreetFest theme is 'High School Musical', and they will perform seven dances, two of which are from the original Ujima group.
The 'Dodecaphonics', Dartmouth's oldest gender-inclusive a capella group, enjoy the less pressured and more lighthearted atmosphere of summer. Summerphonix has traditions like watching 'Pitch Perfect' and going to dinners before or after rehearsals. Permanent members do not solo during the summer, instead allowing 2-3 summer members to do so per song. Can't Rent Comedy has 14 summer members, and during auditions, they asked for open-ended monologues or impressions.
Nick Lutzky '28, a summer co-president of Can't Rent, appreciates the art of sketch comedy and the flexibility it offers. He believes that with sketches, there are countless ways to approach a joke. While these summer performance groups are social spaces, a significant amount of work goes into teaching technical skills to create strong performances. The focus is on creating a community and getting people involved in the creative process, with every group member writing or co-writing a sketch for StreetFest.
In conclusion, summer performance groups at Dartmouth provide a unique and enriching experience, fostering individual growth and a sense of community. Through these groups, students can explore their creativity, build technical skills, and form lasting connections, making it a highlight of their sophomore summer.
