Performing at Illuminate, a showcase uniting cultural dance communities

This is a cross-published piece with Mustang News, more information can be found here.

In a nook of the recreational center to the loading docks between buildings, Cal Poly’s dance teams spent months perfecting their steps to match the beat of the music and every single pointed toe. Their dedication will culminate in one moment: the drawing of curtains revealing a cheering crowd of hundreds.

The annual showcase, Illuminate, hosted by the non-audition dance team United Movement, has been a beacon of expression since 2019. 

This year, 16 teams showcased months of dedication, talent and culture. Behind the scenes, each of these teams dedicated its fall and winter quarters to perfecting routines while building communities. 

Andaaz showcases South Asian dance styles through modern music

Synchronized claps echo in the Multi-Activity Center (MAC) lobby as a group of Cal Poly Andaaz members bounce from one foot to another to a remix of “squabble up” by Kendrick Lamar, one of their routines for their six-minute Illuminate performance. 

The preparation for the showcase started at the beginning of fall quarter, with workshops teaching new and old dancers different types of forms and choreography, according to choreography captain Sahil Goel. 

In the winter, their timeline consisted of two-hour practices three times a week, eventually leading up to one “hectic” week where they practiced every day before the performance. 

Now a computer science junior, Goel has grown with the team since his freshman year in 2022, the birth year of the club, or as the team calls it, “gen 1.”

While still relatively new, the team has doubled since last year, according to Goel.

Andaaz is a dance team designed to uplift dancers in the South Asian community. The name, “Andaaz,” is a Hindi word translating to “style,” a concept heavily embraced by the team, according to Goel. 

The team blends diverse dance styles from across India, from Bollywood and Kathak in the north to Dappankuthu or “Kuthu” and Bharatnatyam in the south, seamlessly fusing them with hip-hop. 

“We don’t have to nag people to come to practice,” Goel said. “People really enjoy our practices and they want to come because their friends are enjoying it; they see the community that we’ve built in practice and outside of practice.”

New members like Siya Shaah expressed excitement about their Illuminate debut. 

“It’s going to be a lot of fun and I am looking forward to seeing everyone perform and also see how we do,” Shaah said. 

Before getting involved with Andaaz fall quarter, Shaah said she danced more “casually,” but was inspired by the “brand-new” experience with the team.

“My favorite part has been learning different styles,” Shaah said. “I’ve not been familiar with a lot of styles, for example, Bhangra I’ve never done, classical I’ve never done, so these are the types of styles I wanted to learn.”

Andaaz’s soundtrack, a fusion of Indian and American music, was crafted by mechanical engineering sophomore and student DJ Kushal Dave this year. In the past, the team recruited professional DJs to create their mix. 

With input from the choreography captains, he paired Indian songs with mainstream American songs to connect with even broader audiences. For Bhangra, a generally upbeat piece, Dave mixed Squabble Up by Kendrick Lamar with two SoundCloud samples— Utopia Bhangra by V3nom and W4VELENGTH by DJ Subsonic. 

These mixes are popular throughout the Indian dance team community, allowing Indian-American students to experience their culture in a way that interacts with their American upbringing. 

“We are another place for anyone to learn about Indian culture,” Goel said. “Being able to perform at Illuminate and at these national competitions is just a way of showing that Cal Poly has a thriving Indian population and culture.”

Letting go in Kaja Krew, a space for K-pop and more 

The stage lit up, revealing a structured crew of white button-ups paired with baggy denim. Chains hang off each dancers’ waists— some hoisting mini scarves and others holding carabiners.

In an instant, the audience steps into the world of K-pop. 

Kaja Krew (K2), Cal Poly’s non-audition K-pop dance cover team, choreographed four meticulously arranged routines. Formerly Kasa Dance Crew (KDC), the team rebranded as Kaja Krew in fall 2023, solidifying as an official club. 

K2 is a more recently developed dance team at Cal Poly, but they are no strangers to participating in Illuminate.

The team’s practices have doubled over the past two years, according to Sammantha Hill, the group’s dance coordinator and an animal science sophomore.  

“Since it’s such a different dance style and there are a lot of other people who listen to Korean pop music, this is kind of a special club for them,” Hill said. 

The Korean phrase “kaja” means “let go,” an expression often used to motivate and encourage others. The team aims to promote this by inviting people to dance, have fun and be part of an energetic a nd passionate community.

The club doesn’t stop at sharing a universal love for K-pop. 

“I think what makes us so really unique is that even though we are based around K-pop within our club, you can find so many other people who are interested in so many other things that I feel like just expand off of K-pop and stuff like that,” said Sophia Oathout, a dancer and business junior.

She also values the bonding experience created through practices and preparation for Illuminate, claiming that members have a deep understanding of each other, especially throughout these processes.

Moving forward, K2 hopes to continue encouraging “letting go” in the spirit of self-expression and dance and promote a safe space for students with various interests and backgrounds, Hill said. 

“It’s not like the other dance styles, it’s not quite like the other music that’s danced to,” Hill said. “I think it brings a little bit more diversity into the dance community here at Cal Poly and more of a safe space for certain people.”

How Cal Poly’s Ballroom club is spinning tradition 

After seeing several posters advertising the Cal Poly Ballroom Club, Mia Wootton thought she’d give it a try. 

Now, the civil engineering junior is a competition coordinator for the team and choreographed a piece at this year’s Illuminate. 

Wooton drew inspiration for her piece by repeatedly listening to a song to hear the different aspects of ballroom dance, she said. She explored a more sensual style of dancing since it complemented the tones of the music. 

The team prepared two routines, blending traditional ballroom styles with contemporary music. Ballroom dance features a variety of dance styles such as tango, rumba, waltz, foxtrot and bolero. 

Meanwhile, Eva Porter, a biological sciences sophomore and dancer, choreographed a piece featuring a mashup of four different Rihanna songs. The piece is a mix of dance styles, such as rumba, East Coast swing, and contemporary dance.

“My main goal was to create a fun and engaging piece that had a lot of dips, turns, and lots of movement to make it engaging for the audience,” Porter said. 

Since Illuminate featured more modern songs, she wanted to create something involving popular music and ballroom, Porter said. 

Despite growing up as a ballet dancer, Cal Poly didn’t have a ballet-related club for Porter. However, she knew she wanted to try a new dance style during her time here, she said. 

“Something that I’ve always been fascinated by is ballroom because I love how it looks. It looks so much fun…the partnering, the dips, the spins, and the chemistry between it…I love all of it,” Porter said.

Porter added that the club is an uplifting and supportive environment.  

“The person that I compete with is one of my best friends now,” Porter said. “I’ve made lifelong connections in ballroom, and it’s amazing.”