FEATURES

In 1988, Viewpoints wrote an article about Chris Barth, a student who juggled college life, work and his aspirations to become a rock’n’roll star. FEATURES

December 9, 2021 5

PHOTOS BY DANIEL HERNANDEZ

Seji Gaerlan (middle) practices his section of the dance routine alongside the members of the Syde Project as they prepare for a dance competition.

Local IE dancers make community

The Syde Project celebrates, shares passions

DANIEL HERNANDEZ & DIEGO LOMELI MANAGING & PHOTO EDITOR

“Promiscuous” by Nelly Furtado blares from the speakers toward the front end of the dance studio signaling to the dancers of The Syde Project that it’s their queue to begin what is commonly known as a cypher: a freestyle dance jam where dancers form a circle and take turns in the center spotlight.

As the circle takes shape and the rhythm takes over, one by one, the members of the group freestyle in the cypher’s center. Their crewmates cheer them on, celebrating each other and hyping up the next dancer in line.

“We usually cypher in session before practices just to let out whatever energy we have,” Kevin Afable, the Syde Project’s cultural adviser, said. “It’s really just to set the tone for practice and just leave whatever you have as far as baggage on the dance foor.”

The Syde Project, started by Seji Gaerlan in late 2018, is an Inland Empire based dance crew that frequently participates in music videos and dance competitions throughout Southern California. The group has grown exponentially in the past three years, becoming headliners of multiple dance competitions. It’s beginning, however, seemed to be almost an accident.

After failing to create a team in 2017, Gaerlan would join Infuse Dance Crew. The director of the team would recommend Gaerlan for a paid dancing gig — the catch being that it was a gig meant for a team.

“I pretty much just lied to him and said, ya I got (a team),” Gaerlan said. “Literally right after I got that phone call I started hitting up a bunch of people from my old team.”

After assembling a team of fve or six of his friends for the gig, the team rehearsed the choreography and performed for the crowd at a country club event.

“Even though we only got (paid) 20 bucks each, it’s something that sparked this little fre in me,” Gaerlan said. “(It) made me want to say I want to keep going forward.”

The team, now in its sixth season, has a diverse cast of around 19 active members — both in culture and dance styles. Watching the team perform, one could easily come to the conclusion that the members of the Syde Project have fostered a tight-knit community. However, it wasn’t an instant connection between the team. In reality, it took a long time for the members to grow close with one another.

“Back then we would have problems expressing ourselves at the Syde Project,” Darryl Santoso, the team’s co-captain said. “Everyone felt kind of distant, but as the years (went) by, everyone started getting comfortable with each other.”

Now the team is closer than ever, which has allowed them to openly express themselves through the art they love the most.

“I feel like I would much rather be here than anywhere else,” Lisa Gonzalez, the team’s treasurer, said.

What helped create this close bond was the one uniting factor that Gaerlan was looking for during auditions.

“Each and every single one of them are underdog type people,” Gaerlan said. “A lot of them tried to audition to bigger teams, a lot of them tried to go into the industry … but they never really get picked and they would end up joining (the Syde Project) and then that’s when they fnd themselves.”

This underdog mentality is a key part of their motivation and is an aura they wish to take to dance competitions in the future.

With no formal competitions in the near future, the Syde Project is looking for different ways to challenge themselves.

“Competitions have lost that competitive vibe,” Santoso said. “So that’s what we wanted to do is just bring a heavy, hard hitting ‘in your face’ set.”

Which is why the Syde Project has been practicing a competitive dance piece for the last few months. Their set involves a combination of dance styles such as krump, hip-hop, house and anything else that conveys a cocky and ferce attitude with the goal of reigniting the competitive fame they believe their art has lost.

“What I want is a side project to take over the IE,” Gaerlan said. “ If everyone thinks of this region at all they would say that is where the Syde project is from.” Seji Gaerlan (left) and the members of the Syde Project practice the choreography of a dance routine the team has created for dance competitions.

PHOTOS BY LEO CABRAL

Drag performer Daisy Hollywood Williams lip syncs and dances through the Bradshaw Building cafeteria seating area for the SAGA drag show Nov. 18.

LEFT: Sabryna Williams gazes upon the crowd in the Bradshaw Building cafeteria. RIGHT: Scarlette Hawthorne gets laughs out of the crowd during the SAGA drag show.

Cafeteria drag show makes a comeback

Sexuality and Gender Acceptance Club brings awareness back to RCC

ELAINA KLEVEN FEATURES EDITOR

Drag queens lip-synced and danced in beaded costumes around students in the cafeteria as iconic pop remixes blasted through the speakers.

An abundance of support came from the audience, cheering at the extravagant costumes, laughing at their punchlines and expressing an overall enjoyment of the event.

Hosted by the Sexuality And Gender Acceptance Club (SAGA), the drag show is an event held to help bring awareness to students that there is a safe LGTBQIA2+ space on campus for them.

Anita Rose, the drag host of the show expressed gratitude for the support from her family, while acknowledging that not everyone has that opportunity.

“But for some people they don’t realize, they won’t say anything until later on in life,” Rose said. “I’ve been very fortunate to be around people who are completely OK and loving and accepting of people and everything they do.”

Many in the LGBTQIA2+ community as well as supporters are aware of ongoing homophobia, and a safe space like SAGA provides an open door to those struggling, questioning or looking for support. Jennifer Shaw, the Vice President of the club noticed how students become more open in these spaces.

“It’s a journey,” Shaw said. “You’ll see the progression of these students becoming their true selves over time and not hiding.”