The VIU Dance Team, with 23 members, celebrated a successful 8-month season by performing its 4th annual Cabaret Show at the Malaspina Theatre on March 19th and 20th.
Team Coach Scarlett Loyer-Beswick said the show consisted of 25 different routines in a variety of genres. “We have jazz groups, heels groups. It’s just a bunch of powerful women getting together and performing,” said Beswick.
Manager Katelyn Kurtz said the show gave the team the freedom to indulge self-expression. “Cabaret is just what you want it to be. During the regular season, the other coaches and I do all the choreography, but for Cabaret we let all the team members make their own dance, so it’s a bunch of different styles and ideas,” said Kurtz.
The Cabaret also promotes inclusivity by also allowing people who are not members of the team to perform. According to Kurtz, “Any student who wants to audition can send in a video, and we’ll take them.”
The Cabaret initially began as a theatre production called The Burlesque Show, with some of the Dance Team members participating in it. Eventually they wanted to do their own show. “ It’s definitely evolved over the years, but now it’s just a really fun show with upbeat music. It’s kept its roots in burlesque dancing, but it’s also become something new.”
Austin McGrath came to watch and is an avid fan of the team. “I just moved to Nanaimo a couple years ago, and I’ve been at The Cabaret every year.” When describing the show, he said, “It was really good energy. They had a lot of crowd engagement.”
Many of the routines performed are inspired by their competitions throughout the season. The Dance Team participated in the competitions Star Talent and Synergy at the Port Theatre in Nanaimo in March where they won awards for style, contemporary, ballet, tap, and jazz dances.
Beswick said dancing as a creative outlet also helps her with school and mental health. “I have been dancing since I was two years old, and this is my third year on the Dance Team. It’s always been there for me when I feel down, and I think the rest of the team feels the same way, especially during exam season.”
The team performed at The Showcase on April 2nd. “We show all of our competition dances and then all the dances that we do in the summer, because we also perform at Rock VIU. It’s a bit more family friendly, but if anyone wants to get an idea of what dance is like, it has dances from the entire year.” Kurtz added.
The Dance Team also hosts several other events to raise money for competitions and events. Twice a year they host Country Night at the VIU Student Pub, where all the proceeds from entry fees go to the Dance Team. Throughout the year, they do chocolate fundraisers with Purdy’s as well as bottle drives.
To learn how to get involved or if you want to attend a performance check out the Dance Team’s Instagram profile.
