eXpressions takes on the 90's

While the rest of us were watching TV at home or sunbathing in the Bahamas, the girls of eXpressions were hard at work on campus rehearsing for their performance this weekend. With so little time (little more than two months since auditions) to prepare for a full show, the members sacrificed much needed time off to remain at school and dance — 10 hours per day, every day. This week, rightfully dubbed "hell week," is another grueling set of rehearsals that stretch from right after the end of classes to late at night. But it seems like all the work was worth it.

The show, called "I Love the '90s" is a delightful mix of the classic songs we grew up listening to, including No Doubt's early hits, old school Ace of Base and the notorious "Bad Touch," a.k.a. the Mammal Song. An entire dance is devoted to a medley of some of the most memorable — and, some would argue, most regrettable — songs of the '90s: N*Sync's "Bye Bye Bye," Backstreet's "Everybody" and Britney's "Hit Me Baby One More Time." Yet the dancers manage to steer clear of the innate cheesiness of such a collection of songs. Instead, accompanying the songs are intricately choreographed dances that highlight the dancers' formidable abilities.

President Laura Shen '06 calls this show the "most aerobic show we've ever had." This group of what some may call "bunheads" goes beyond their ballet training and produces dances with an edgy, hip-hop feel that certainly gets the audience pumped up. The familiar songs take us back to the good ol' days of middle school awkwardness and high school drama, and the dancing keeps us captivated throughout the two-hour show.

eXpressions, the oldest dance company on campus, is a relatively small group of 13 girls. Though not officially an all-girls company, they say they will only accept dancers — male or female — who are up to certain technical standards. This means, however, that the company usually consists of all-female dancers. But there are advantages to having a small, select troupe. Every member, besides two, choreographed a dance for the show. And on a relatively small stage like the Frist Theater, each girl has the opportunity to be highlighted in smaller ensembles. The intimate atmosphere also creates greater interaction between the audience and the dancers.

Though we may technically be children of the '80s, it was the '90s that truly defined our childhoods — relive it with eXpressions. "I Love the '90s" will be performed this Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 2 and 8:30 p.m. at Frist Theater.