By Nicole Schmidt
World of Dance is offering a special twist in the finale this year.
For the end piece of the five-performing-group show, a special hip-hop dance will bring all of the dancers together.
Usually, in the finale each dance group comes out individually and performs a short dance featuring their group. But this year, Jodi Maxfield, director of the Cougarettes, said she wanted to bring the dancers together.
“I just wanted to make it really fun and let the students show their personality,” Maxfield said.
Maxfield said she thinks the hip-hop style of the finale will let the dancers have fun with each other and with the crowd. She said because hip-hop includes basic-level steps, everyone is able to feel confident doing it.
“People can put their own flair into it,” Maxfield said.
Maxfield also said she wanted the dancers to perform together because it lets the audience see the respect the dancers from different companies have for one another.
Bethany Taylor, a dancer on the back-up Ballroom Dance Tour Team, said the finale has an amusing factor.
“I think it”s fun because we are all out there in our own costumes,” Taylor said. “But, it”s difficult to do in my tango dress and high heels.”
Taylor also said she likes the finale because it lets the dancers share their love of dance with one another.
“It”s just a big party,” Taylor said.
Brian Spears, a dancer on the back-up Ballroom Dance Tour Team, said he enjoys the finale because of the style.
“It”s really sassy,” Spears said. “People will be off their seats, I”m sure.”
Shannon Hatch, a member of the Cougarettes, said she enjoys the finale because of the unity it brings and the ability hip-hop has of being fun for all the dancers.
The dancers featured in World of Dance this year are the International Folk Dance Ensemble, Ballroom Dance Company, Dancers” Company, Theatre Ballet and Cougarettes.
The show runs Sept. 24 through Sept. 27 in the de Jong Concert Hall at the Harris Fine Arts Center. Performance times are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and both 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are available for $10 at the ticket office in the Harris Fine Arts Center.
