The BYU Rhythm N' Soul Collective (RSC) impressed the audience with their part in BYU's Black History Month concert series on Feb. 13, performing several traditional and modern African songs and dances.
The RSC is a student group that focuses on exploring and honoring the African diaspora through song and dance.
Janelle Dadson is one of the student gospel choir leaders.
“More than just the song and dance, we’re a community. Just students trying to have fun together,” Dadson said.
The concert consisted of a mix of old and new gospel songs, beginning with “Lift Every Voice and Sing." The program also included a couple of spoken word acts and a step routine.
In addition to large ensemble numbers, the program also featured a few small-group pieces with student soloists.
The audience was encouraged to participate, which created a fun and interactive experience. People stood up, clapped along and cheered for the singers.
Mirielle Kent discovered the RSC this year during New Student Orientation in the fall.
“I love soul music, and it’s fun to sing,” Kent said. “And I asked if I could join, and they were super welcoming and very accommodating. They’ve been wonderful.”
The RSC community is tight-knit and supportive. The members speak highly of it, and anyone watching them perform from the outside can see that the group is supportive of one another. When the small groups performed, the rest of the collective sat in the front row and hyped them up.
Janelle spoke about how her experience improved her singing and dancing skills and expanded her leadership abilities.
“I don’t know how I ended up being a gospel choir director,” Dadson said. "I have no experience doing this at all other than being in the choir. But I’ve been able to kind of find myself more as a leader."
The RSC is a one-credit class you can register for at BYU if you’re interested in joining this community and learning more about African legacy and tradition.
To see RSC perform, check out their shows coming up, including BYU’s Night of Light on Feb. 20 and their show “Stories of Life” on Feb. 26.
One can also find more information about performances, the class and their mission on their website.