Dance is a special way to capture the feelings and emotions that words just can’t express while fostering a sense of community with people that have similar values. The Fairfield University Dance Ensemble (FUDE) achieved exactly this over the past weekend. FUDE is the largest student run club on campus. The club featured a plethora of styles in their showcase, ranging from ballet, jazz, broadway jazz, Irish step, and lyrical to tap, contemporary and hip hop.
The show was divided into two acts. The opening number of the first act was a broadway jazz rendition of “On Broadway.” Bow ties, sparkly fedoras, galore! The dance brought a high energy that set the mood for the entire show. “The Waltz of the Flowers” was a beautiful ballet dance, which had a completely different vibe than the rest of the dances, channeling “The Nutcracker” type of beauty.
“Runaway Baby” was an electric small group jazz number choreographed by Elizabeth Miller. It is the first piece Miller has choreographed for FUDE. The fringe tops really added to the flair of the piece. Fusion, Fairfield’s competitive dance team, performed an emotional piece to “Daylight” a part of the D1 jazz category choreographed by alumna Danielle Minery. The numerous dancers spinning in unity was precise and amazing to see the coordination.
My favorite costumes were from the lyrical dance “I Have Nothing”. The outfits were red dresses, ruched at the sides with a flowy skirt at the bottom. The heartfelt dance, choreographed by senior Elliot Enriquez, was dedicated to the lyrical dance girls.
“Take it to the 2000s” was an animated performance to a mash-up of iconic songs for our early childhood decade featuring “SexyBack” by Justin Timberlake. The dance was choreographed by Charlotte Ginolfi and The Mirror’s very own–Jacqui Rigazio. My personal favorite dances of the night were the ones performed from the hip hop genre, especially the small group hip hop dance “Diva” in Act 2.
“Everywhere, Everything,” a lyrical performance choreographed by Bella Lanzarini, dedicated to the art of dance, was the perfect ending to Act 1– hopeful yet sentimental. Act 2 opened with another electrifying performance “Eat the Bass” choreographed by Meghan Finney.
The Irish dancers performed a number of dances to popular Irish songs in numbers such as “Tell Me Ma Twist” and “Dance Above the Rainbow.” My personal favorite was their performance to “Gimme Gimme Gimme,” the classic ABBA song as the third number of Act 2.
First-year Irish dancer Maddie Weilage articulated her thoughts on her first FUDE showcase, “It was fun being around a group of really supportive dancers that want to continue their passion for it in college. I am excited to be part of it for my next 3 years at Fairfield.”
First year Trista Oulette shared, “Since I started dancing as a little kid, it was my happy place, my therapy, and where I felt most at peace. Coming into FUDE as a freshman this year, I was a little nervous that it would change for me. As soon as I came into FUDE everyone was so nice and comforting; I knew they would become my second family here. Having some of my best friends on stage performing with me is very special and FUDE has an indescribable bond that no one can break.”
“Everybody Dance Now” was an interesting combination of both Irish and Tap dancers. Both groups wore graphic t-shirts that connected to their respective dance styles, either saying “I Love Irish Dance” or “I Love Tap,” which I found clever. I never thought about the relatedness between different styles of dance, especially Irish and Tap which one would assume are so different from each other. However, the two styles together flowed well.
The “Elvis” dance choreographed by Justine Cuomo and Kelly Conroy dedicated to the tap dance girls was a compilation of music from the “King of Rock N’ Roll.” Watching this dance from an audience perspective, I could see how much fun the dancers were having on stage– a heartwarming feeling that perfectly translates their love for dance.
Each senior performed a solo to their dance style of expertise, each expressing their passion for the art form along with their memories, relationships, and growth formed because of dance. This year’s graduating seniors are McKayla Boyd, Kelly Conroy, Ainsley Corriveau, Justine Cuomo, Emilie Droplet, Elliot Enriquez, Katherine Enriquez, Abigaile Evangelista, Deirdre Galvin, Charlotte Ginolfi, Sam Gulachenski, Lindsay Jones, Bella Lanzarini, Jenna LaRochelle, Grace Lombardi, Roisin McCarthy, Elizabeth McLaughlin, Alexis McMorrow, Jacqui Rigazio and Carmela Silvia. The Senior Dance was a lyrical to the song “Ribs” by Lorde, which beautifully captures the essence of nostalgia that comes from growing up and moving on with life.
Senior Bella Lanzarini reflected on her time with FUDE, “This year’s FUDE show was definitely one for the books. Between the amazing choreography and incredible talent, it’s safe to say that this year’s show was one of my favorite moments of my college career. It has left me feeling so fulfilled, inspired, and grateful for the FUDE community. Taking the stage one last time with some of my best friends was such a bittersweet moment, but I will cherish it forever.”
The show ended with everyone a part of FUDE performing “Came Here for Love.” The 2025 Spring Dance showcase captured the creativity and dedication of the student dancers here at Fairfield. Each dance, distinctively different from each other, yet conveys each person’s love for dance. All the performances were special to watch and to also see the relationships between the dancers built throughout their years at FUDE. If you would like to learn more about how to get involved with FUDE next school year, check out the FUDE website and share your contact info.
