Come one, come all to SUNY Oneonta's Terpsichorean Dance Company's fall 2015 semester show, Terps Goes Viral! Since the beginning of the semester the talented dancers and choreographers of SUNY Oneonta have been dedicating their hearts to putting together an amazing show that everyone on campus can enjoy. It consists of contemporary, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, creepy, and step. This semester's show will surely blow you away. “For the first time in my life I found something that I was supposed to be a part of. Terps is just that. It’s an escape from the stressful week that college often has. I have met some wonderful people that I am so grateful to share the experience with. There’s nothing like being on stage doing what you love with the people you love" senior, Erin Ferry says. Terps is more than just a dance company so be sure to make the time and come see a great show!
The Terpsichorean Dance Company is an entirely student run. The choreographer, dancers, lighting crew, and sound crew are all current students here at Oneonta State. Since its establishment in 1972, Terps has put on sold out shows each semester of the academic year. The theme is never the same. Each semester the eboard discusses possible themes for the current show. When asked about picking the shows theme the eboard stated that "picking the theme is always a challenge, we feel pressure to make sure the company will be satisfied and excited for the theme. When choosing, we usually sit around and say every idea that comes to our mind, whether or not it might be stupid, and then something just clicks. From then on we brainstorm ideas and the theme just sort of falls into place." They decided that this semesters theme is Terps Goes Viral. Also, another fun aspect of terps, between dance routines, comedic acts and other organizations of SUNY Oneonta take the stage and wow the audience with their own talents.
Terps isn't just a dance company but also a family that stays connected forever. "I’ve made a lot of friends since I came to Oneonta and I love them all, but I’ve made friends through this company that I will be friends with for my entire life. There are people who graduated that I still talk to and see whenever I can. Terps gave me a second family and I will be forever grateful for it” says senior, Melissa Colodner. The dancers that are a part of Terps become connected in a way that isn't just as friends, spending countless hours together a week brings relationships that are irreplaceable. The Terpsichorean Dance Company is more than just dance to the girls and guys involved, it is a family and a place to call home. The company is open to all students that attend Oneonta regardless of the dance experience you have, everyone is welcome. When asked about Terps' popularity on campus the eboard said, "we believe Terps is very popular because there are so many of us involved. It is a fun event that people look forward to every semester. It is not just a dance recital, it is truly a variety show. We put a lot of effort into publicizing so everyone on campus knows about the shows."
The Terpsichorean Dance Company is truly unique to the Oneonta campus. The eboard all universally agreed that "Terps is so unique because it gives students the opportunity to make their own dance visions come alive. When you have been the student for so long, it is a nice change to now become the teacher. Terps give dancers an opportunity to branch out and try new styles that their studios may not have. Terps give chances to people who have never danced before to become very successful dancers. And most of all, Terps dancers chose to be here. They don’t pay to take class, they take time out of their schedule every week to commit to an amazing company. We get to dance for pure enjoyment, with friends that we have made for a lifetime, and even better, we get to perform in front of all of our friends and peers! The Terpsichorean Dance Company is truly a family. Every Sunday we walk into a room of 75 people who we can count on 100% and as each semester flies by, the company just gets stronger, closer, and we all fall more in love with each other." No other school has a program quite like this and the dedication and love everyone shows to Terps is inspiring. Junior, Chrissy Leger agrees saying, "joining Terps was the greatest decision I’ve made in my entire college career.The joy that this company and everyone in it brings me is unmeasurable. Doing something I love next to people that I love even more is such a blessing and I wouldn’t trade my Terps family for the world.”
Many dancers join Terps for different reasons, for senior Lindsey Kendrick, “dance has always been the most important thing in my life, but never before Terps have I found the connection with dance that I now have. Being a choreographer, and dancing beside my lifelong best friends is the greatest gift college has every given me. I will dance on forever, but it will never be the same as dancing in the Terpsichorean Dance Company. I am so proud to be a Terpsie.” For everyone involved Terps has become so much more than dancing and putting on a show for the student body and others to enjoy, a bond is created that can't be broken regardless of your age and how long you've been graduated. Alumni come back to Oneonta specifically for Terps and share a bond with dancers who might not have even been part of the company when they were. Terps is a home for the scared and nervous freshman during their first few weeks of college and it will always be a home to the seniors everyone will cry when saying goodbye to, junior Hayley Rosenfeld puts it perfectly,"everyone looks for a place to belong when they come to college, and I was lucky enough to find this amazing company. Terps has given me friendships that I will have for a lifetime and I am so grateful for the countless experiences that this company has given me.”
***Terps Goes Viral will be preformed in the Goodrich Theater in the Fine Arts Building on SUNY Oneonta's campus Thursday, December 3rd at 8pm. Friday, December 4th at 8pm. And Saturday, December 5th at 2pm and 8pm! Get your tickets at Hunt Union starting Monday, November 23rd, $3 for students and $5 for the general public. Tickets are also available for purchase here!
