South dances into Kaleidoscope

South Campus shows a variety of dance in its annual concert. Dances include classical ballet, hip-hop, jazz and tango. Photo courtesy Gypsy Ingram
South Campus shows a variety of dance in its annual concert. Dances include classical ballet, hip-hop, jazz and tango. Photo courtesy Gypsy Ingram

By Daniella Solis/entertainment editor

South Campus’ Fifth Annual Kaleidoscope Concert will focus on a diversity of dance styles such as classical ballet, hip-hop, traditional jazz, modern dance, musical theatre, contemporary and tango.

Performances are 7:30 p.m.  April 30-May 1 in the Carillon Theatre on South Campus.

“The concert is an ever- evolving art form that strives to always give our audience something to be enticed, entertained and evoked by,” said Gypsy Ingram, associate professor of dance.

The concert will feature more than 100 dancers enrolled in dance courses or members of the South Campus Velocity Dance Company.

The show will open with a performance titled “The Late Night Snack Brigade” to international pop artist Lady Gaga’s song “Teeth.” 

“The dance is about vampires, but not those cheesy Twilight vampires, real vampires like in Blade or Interview with the Vampire,” she said.

A hip-hop piece will consist of a battle between one class called Team Grape Drink and another class called Team Burrito.

Both dances are hard-hitting hip-hop dances that feature krumping — a high-energy street dance with exaggerated movement involving the entire body — among other hip-hop styles, Ingram said.

“And They Told Us to Cry” will be performed by 16 dancers and will use large quantities of water onstage. It explores being emotionally lost and searching for direction in one’s lives.

This concert will provide all the dancers with a way to show everyone everything they worked on for the semester.

The concert developed due to a Dance Salad series — a fall dance concert that showcased fall students’ work but not spring students. The Kaleidoscope Concert provides an opportunity for both spring and fall students to shine with there now being two formal mainstage concerts each year, Ingram said.

“It provides them with the opportunity to not only have their moment in the spotlight but to appreciate dance in a much more meaningful way than they would if they simply remained in the studio,” she said.

Ingram hopes the performers realize how talented they are and the progress they have made in the semester.

“I hope it encourages them to come back to a dance class next year,” she said. “For our students in the audience, I hope they are inspired. I hope they are entertained. I hope they leave with a new or deeper respect for what our dancers do, and I hope it makes them consider coming to join us in the studio for class.”

The concert is free for TCC students, faculty and staff with a valid ID and $5 cash for others. Tickets can be purchased on the day of the show.

The box office and doors for general seating will open at 7 p.m.

For more information, contact Ingram at 817-515-4270.