Students packed into Weber Theater to watch TRYBE, Wheaton College’s Multicultural Dance Company and first student-run dance group, present their annual gala. Titled “Versus,” the show ran Thursday, Feb. 20 through Saturday, Feb. 22.
TRYBE is made up of Wheaton students who not only respect each other’s cultural knowledge and differences, but also come together to promote these differences.
For seniors Caroline Peters ’14 and Brianna Walden ’14, this was a farewell performance. “This year’s gala wasn’t so different from my past year but the group this year got really close which was wonderful,” Peters said. “I’ll miss performing the most. But I’ll also miss all the practices and jokes and fun we would all have together because we were always together practicing.”
The show started off with heartfelt introductions given by each group member. Audience member Margaret LeLacheur ’16 saw the immense value in this opening: “I liked that they each said what TRYBE means to them at the beginning of the show because that made it more meaningful to watch.” She continued, “TRYBE incorporates a diversity of dance styles and includes many different guest performers which makes the show more interesting.”
Each gala has multicultural performances incorporated into the show, showcasing an international style of dance. One performance, titled “So-Ranbushi,” is a folk song from Northern Japan.
“TRYBE is important to the Wheaton community for its emphasis on diversity and for bringing attention to other cultural forms of dance. Those dances are usually some of my favorites,” said LeLaucher. TRYBE’s community extends beyond their dancers, and they always feature other Wheaton performers on campus.
Caroline DiNicola-Fawley ’16, was most captivated by the incorporation of various campus performers as an expression of diversity. “I loved how Trybe incorporated other groups on campus, some of which I didn’t even know existed, and allowed them to demonstrate what they do.”
The final performance featured the group dancing in evil clown costumes. TRYBE member Aubrey Faggen ’17 said the performance was “a way to show our creative and creepy side. Plus, we were able to get a few screams out of the audience!
“Trybe is a family above all else,” said Faggen. We dance because we’re passionate, but we’re a family because we love each other.”