VIBE entertains audience with enthusiastic rhythm

When VIBE, Oberlin's student-run dance company of 22 members, takes the stage, it brims with energy and teamwork.

In a piece titled "Beyond Dream," seven women move across the stage in almost perfect harmony. This high-energy interpretive routine, choreographed by junior Gwyneth Hughes, sets the mood for the rest of the performance.

The next piece, "Canyon," by junior Meredith Goldberg, is filled with graceful costumes, ballet-inspired movements and impressive lifts and turns. Junior Ann Willemssen and first-years Laurrie Pickard, Laura Daugherty and Catherine Bodnar glide easily through the sophisticated steps.

If you enjoy the Gap's recent advertising campaign, the third piece on the program is undoubtedly one of the evening's highlights. "Hear Me Out," a tap number by junior Brenda Adhikari and featuring Adhikari, Meredith Goldberg and junior Jordan Mueller, is uncannily reminiscent of a Gap commercial. Clad in khaki pants and white T-shirts, the trio taps out rhythms that are funky and fun, yet simple and eloquent..

"Strata," the next number, also with Ann Willemssen, is entirely different in tone. Set to "The Saint," a jazz-infused piece by Medeski Martin and Wood, the interpretive moves performed by Willemssen, junior Marcie Swartz, Laura Daugherty, Sara Carnell, Catherine Bodnar, Meredith Goldberg, Jenny Lust-Yablick and senior Nanette Lacuesta, are inventive and playful. This piece in particular seemed to have many layers of meaning, ranging from the light-hearted and humorous to ones more ornate and profound. "Carrots," an a capella tap collaboration, was almost too much to absorb, as a veritable army of dancers barraged the audience with several confusing tap rhythms at once. After the initial commotion, the dancers fall in line, pulling off entertaining tap solos and an impressive finale.

The number that followed, "Carrots" was refreshingly simple and refined. "Variation from Raymonda," a ballet solo arranged and performedby Bodnar, combined classical elements with a sense of humor, making her performance another highlight of the evening.

The last piece before the grand finale was Vanessa Chaves' "Head Above Water," set to Santana's "Batuka." Corena Gamble, Gweneth Hughes, Catherine Bodnar and Chaves move with symmetry and style in this aesthetically pleasing routine.

For the somewhat anticlimactic, yet colorful finale, all of VIBE offered no surprise, with all members running onto the dance floor in a line.

VIBE has clearly worked hard all semester to put on this brief but entertaining performance, which, at under an hour, is just long enough to provide a satisfying and worthwhile study break. Despite some minor imperfections,VIBE, which has been around since the spring of 1996, is full of spirit and enthusiasm. If they know one thing, it's how to work the crowd.

VIBE will perform in Wilder Main Space on Dec. 3 & 4, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $3.

Fanning outwards: This year's installment of the student-produced dance concert VIBE opens this weekend at Wilder Main. Here, four dancers, in a Busby Berkely inspired moment demonstrate one of the production's more aesthetically pleasing visual moments. (photo by Andrea Kamins)