The South Florida All Stars graced the University Student Center ballroom Thursday night at their inaugural Stars in Motion dance showcase. The show also featured the local Rhythm and Sole Tap Ensemble as well as USF St. Petersburg’s South Asian Association.
Ballet, hip-hop, Bollywood, contemporary, jazz, lyrical – the night saw a remarkable array of dance. Most of the routines were performed in groups or with partners, but few of the numbers were executed solo in the spotlight.
Justice Thornton, SFA president and assistant choreographer, said Stars in Motion’s name was born out of an effort to integrate the team and the dancer’s individual talent into a collective theme. No dancer went unnoticed, even in the busier performances.
Every genre was met with a different reaction, albeit a positive one. During “Seasons,” a ballet routine choreographed by SFA’s Kristina Sonstroem, the audience remained silent. Everyone sat motionless, entranced by the grace and detail, until the end when they applauded and cheered for their fellow Bulls.
The South Asian Association performed a contemporary piece centered on the song “O Re Piya” from the film Aaja Naachle. Radhika Dang, founder, president and choreographer, used this song back in 2010 when she competed for an Indian television show. Her partner, Savannah Harrison, junior, joined her on stage for the emotional performance.
The Rhythm and Sole Tap Ensemble performed “Ooga Chaka,” choreographed by Beth Caprio, which seemed to surprise those not expecting younger dancers to appear before them. The audience cheered and clapped for the tappers throughout the dance, and were even encouraged to interact with them in a later routine.
Stars in Motion has been in the works since the team’s founding, and the All Stars have been preparing for the event since last fall. Thornton recognized Erica Campbell, director of Multicultural Affairs, and Meagan Linnell, their sports club coordinator, as part of the team’s support system, along with friends and family.
“We have been working day and night through injuries, our studies, sleep deprivation,” said Thornton on the day of the show. “It’s been a tiresome and stressful time, but we know it’ll all be worth it at the end. They all go above and beyond for the team, and I am so honored to dance with people who truly love their art and this team.”
