Roses, red gloves and purple pom poms shared the stage with Graffiti Dancers, a contemporary student dance company, this weekend for its 52nd annual show “Back in Business.” The 28-member dance troupe performed in the Norris Center McCormick Auditorium. 

Family members, friends and alumni streamed into the auditorium, carrying posters and flowers for the students. A “Graffiti” chant began as the lights turned down and the dancers assumed their starting formations.

Graffiti’s preparation for the show began in the winter, following its Graffoniks show with TONIK Tap. The annual show was choreographed and produced by the students, with guest performers Boomshaka and Northwestern K-Dance joining them for two of the three performances.

“It was what I expected and more,” Communication first-year Calista Nelson said. “Everyone is so incredibly talented and makes you want to be a better dancer every time you’re dancing with them.” 

The show was divided into two parts with a brief intermission. Act 1 began with a full company piece to “Vogue” by Madonna. Other performances throughout the show included jams, dances with two or three members and small group routines.

Two videos guided the audience through a parody of the team’s audition process. The first featured the initial audition and callback process, while the second part included the “technical round” with the final preparations for the show.

“All of our friends were in the audience cheering for us, and then we were all cheering for each other backstage and hyping each other up when we got tired,” Communication junior Savannah Patience said.“We were all just so excited to be performing together.”  

The second half of the show featured a pom dance to Lady Gaga’s “Applause,” drawing gasps and whispers from the crowd as the dancers appeared with pom pom props on stage. Dancers formed a kickline at the front of the stage while linking arms to end the dance. 

Choreographer and Communication sophomore Delaney Lane said she was excited to bring a unique element to the annual show for her second year on the team.

“No one has really done that yet for Graffiti, so I was like, ‘Okay sure, I’ll bring this to Graffiti’ and choreograph something that was part of my high school experience that I miss,” Lane said. 

The show ended with two pieces. The first was choreographed and performed by the graduating seniors of Graffiti, accompanied by a video tribute of dancers speaking on the seniors’ contributions. The video also included clips and images of the seniors performing when they were younger. 

The final all-company piece was performed to “Purple Rain” by Prince before the dancers took their final bows. 

“Most are the pioneers of what Graffiti is now because it was just so different before, and now this is what it is,” Lane said. “I’ve heard so many people say that this year’s Graffiti was one of the strongest groups Graffiti has ever had, and I feel like the seniors had so much to do with that.” 

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