USU’s Dance Company gets ready to “Shut Up and Dance”

By: Kristen Steiner

The Utah State University Dance Company presents “Shut Up and Dance,” today at 7 p.m. at the Ellen Eccles Theatre in Logan, Utah.

“We have an extremely talented and versatile group of dancers, and those of us who have done choreography have been absolutely amazing,” said Ginger Hislop, one of the directors of the upcoming dance show. “I'm really excited for everyone to be able to show their work.”

The company has been in rehearsals since September and has had several opportunities throughout the school year to fine-tune their performing skills as they have performed at “The Howl”, a couple of USU men’s basketball games and the Miss USU Pageant.

Beyond performing at different events, the company has also spent many hours putting on fundraisers to fund their shows, buying and making their own costumes and choreographing their own dances.

This evening’s show is the apex of all of the hard work and dedication the company has put in over the past year. Several dance types will be showcased this evening along with two guest soloists who are family members of the company’s regular dancers.

“Usually we have a group come and be guests for us,” Hislop said, “but this year two of our girls, Lindsey Kossin and Kelsie Lott, are having their sisters come and each do a solo as guest artists. It gives us time to rest with our quick changes.”

“I am excited just to be able to perform in front of a crowd again,” said Madison Samuels, a USU Dance Company member who has been dancing since she was nine.

Most of the women on the team have been dancing and performing since they were young and most still seem to thrive off performance adrenaline.

“I am just very proud of this team,” Hislop said. “We have had some ups and downs, but we ended up pulling it all together.”

“We're just so proud of each other and our show and we hope everyone has as much fun watching us as we've had putting the show together,” she said.

Tickets for adults are $10, $7 for USU students and $5 for children ages 3 to 10.