Members of the DOBC gave a quote revolutionary performance this last weekend in Robsham
The Dance Organization of Boston College premiered their annual showcase, “Revolution,” this past Thursday, Friday and Saturday night in Robsham Theater. Over 40 talented girls danced in 24 numbers, ranging from tap, jazz, lyrical, and ballet to hip hop. The music for each number was taken from popular culture, chosen by each of the choreographers for the specific meaning the music and dance, which, when paired, could portray the message to the crowd.
Maggie DiPasquale, Director of DOBC, explained the meaning behind the title in the event program. She explains, “Revolution is the change in our bodies as we improve. It is the introduction of new members into our community. It is the fouette turns we master during rehearsals. However, the power and confidence behind the term is what revolution has fully come to embody for the dancers.”
However, this revolution is not easy for the dancers to attain. The girls rehearsed weekly, beginning in late September, sometimes with their number’s rehearsal time slated to begin at 11p.m. As the date of the show grew closer, rehearsals lasted for hours several times a week, including Friday and Saturday nights. The girls sacrificed so much of their free time in order to produce an impressive final product, and judging from the applause each number received, they succeeded. Taylor Wagner, a sophomore DOBC member, stated, “Rehearsals were long, difficult and sometimes very late at night. It’s hard to have to finish homework and then have to run to dance. But performing the show made it all worth it.” Taylor went on to say that many of the girls felt the same way.
DOBC is a student-run organization, with executive officers and members. Members choreograph their own dances and run rehearsals. Costume costs are partially covered by club funds, and partially covered by the members themselves. Members have a flat due of $35.
DOBC was founded by Allyson Olewnik ’98 for a diverse group of girls who simply wanted to dance, without the pressure of auditioning for the other dance groups at Boston College. It began as a group of five girls showcasing a fifteen-minute show in Gasson 100. The group barely had the time or space to rehearse, and would meet in random places on campus in order to choreograph and perfect their dances. Girls could be found rehearsing in the McElroy stairwells, and other seemingly incongruent locations for a dance rehearsal. The club slowly grew, and DOBC is a strong club that now rehearses in the Brighton dance studio. 2001 was the first year that the club showcased on the Robsham stage and it now is one of the most anticipated shows of the year, with club member’s friends coming to Robsham in droves in order to support them. Clearly, the club has revolutionized itself from its inception, and the title of this year’s show is a testament to the strides it has made.
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