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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2009
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THE JUSTICE
BOSTON’S DANCE CREW
GENEVIEVE ARMSTRONG/the Justice
FISTS UP: Student Events sponsored a performance by local dance crew Status Quo in Sherman Function Hall on Thursday. The act served as a lead-in to the announcement of the fall concert performer.
Status Quo stirs things up Student Events brings the Bostonbased dance crew to Brandeis By AMY MELSER JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
Dance group Status Quo, runners-up on the MTV show America’s Best Dance Crew, performed Thursday night before the announcement that Ben Folds will perform at Brandeis’ fall concert. Ernest, Jayjion, Darvis, JP, Thornell, Quise, Desmond, Junn Yahh and Donell did a hip-hop/R&B performance that got the crowd going wild. Donell, a temporary member who doubles as security guard for the team, informed me how hard it was when Ernest sprained his ankle on
America’s Best Dance Crew. The results demonstrated how teamwork and dedication to the art of dancing can get a group through difficult competitions. Status Quo started out as a “street crew” in Boston. The group’s manager, Kevin Gibson, says Status Quo travels up and down the East Coast performing whenever it can. The men have performed at colleges and bar mitzvahs and even make house calls. In the future they are looking forward to performing at the House of Blues. They take a lot of pride in the charity work they do, including appearances for Toys for Tots and
Back to School Gymboree. Social Events coordinator Ellen Franz ’12 was thrilled to get these performers to Brandeis. Franz watched them when they were on America’s Best Dance Crew and thought they were the “coolest team,” and “good with a crowd,” she said in an interview. Franz said that Student Events used to just put up a banner announcing the fall concert performer, but this “gets people more riled up.” Status Quo demonstrated a moonwalk, a Soulja Boy and flips over six people crouching down. This certainly was an exciting preface to the fall 2009 Student Events concert.
AMY MELSER/the Justice
FLIP FLOPPERS: Status Quo impressed the crowd with acrobatic break dancing.
AMY MELSER/the Justice
DANCING KINGS: The men of Status Quo prepare to show off their dance moves, which won recognition on an MTV show.
GENEVIEVE ARMSTRONG/the Justice
UPPER THRUST: Status Quo’s hip-hop-inspired moves entertained the audience.