Marquette’s Bayanihan Student Organization will take guests back to the psychedelic 1960s this Saturday, Nov. 22, during its 18th annual fashion show, “The Bayanihan Experience.” The BSO fashion show is Marquette’s largest student-held fundraising event and will take place at 7 p.m. in the Alumni Memorial Union Grand Ballrooms.
The groovy theme is incorporated into this year’s show through vintage clothing and the 60s songs in each section of the dances. Along with BSO, the Indian Student Organization, African Student Association, Hype Dance and the Meladies will be performing in the event. The format of the show includes a segment of dance, followed by the modeling of clothing to complement the dance.
“I like the idea of all these MU groups coming together for this one show,” said Riane Taday, the fashion show coordinator and choreographer and junior in the College of Business Administration. “The fact that all our efforts are going towards a non-profit is very rewarding in the end.”
ArtWorks for Milwaukee is the non-profit organization that will be receiving the funds of this year’s show. BSO chose ArtWorks as its non-profit for last year as well, but ArtWorks decided to donate all the money raised to the typhoon victims in the Philippines instead.
“We thought we would reach out to them again after being so generous last year,” Jasmine Alipio, fashion show coordinator and sophomore in the College of Health Sciences, said. “They are a great organization that helps students that don’t have opportunities like we do.” ArtWorks provides Milwaukee-area high school students with paid, art-based internships in order to develop career skills. BSO’s goal this year is to raise over $6,000 for the organization.
The fashion show coordinators started planning the event this summer by choosing the theme and non-profit, designing the logo and finding stores to lend clothes to be featured in the show. They also received a lot of help through event management at the AMU.
“We are really grateful for the organized team at the AMU,” Taday said. “I’ve been there about ten times asking about publicity and other fashion show needs; without them, we would probably be lost.”
The coordinators also had to approach other organizations about participating in the show, as well as audition around 100 people to fill all the modeling and dance positions.
ReThreads, Pac Sun, Francesca’s, PINK and Marquette’s Spirit Shop lent clothes to be featured in the show. A boutique called Blessed even volunteered to make clothes especially for the event.
“We thought that was kind of insane when we first signed up with them,” Alipio said. “We asked, ‘Are you sure you can do this?’” Traditional outfits provided by BSO members will also be featured in the show during the cultural portion.
The dance segments of the show add entertainment, as well as culture through the formal, modern, Filipino and Latin dances.
“Our rehearsal schedule has been really crazy,” said Angela Masajo, sophomore in the College of Health Sciences and choreographer. “Groups are lucky if they are done rehearsing in two hours.”
All of the show’s choreographers have their own styles, and they collaborated to create the finished dances. “The songs gave me inspiration to determine how the dances should end up,” Taday said. “If I have an idea and vision, I want to propose it and see show it would look on stage.”
Marquette students who attend the fashion show have the opportunity to donate money to a great cause while enjoying a show packed with fashion and fine arts performances.
“Attending the show is a great way to see what Marquette has to offer, especially from a cultural standpoint,” said Michael Gonzalez, choreographer and sophomore in the College of Health Sciences. “To be honest, I didn’t have any dance experience before BSO, but getting involved with the organization’s cultural dances last year led me to more opportunities in dance.”
The word “Bayanihan” refers to the spirit of community and cooperation and means working together to achieve a common goal. Masajo called BSO a “family” while Taday added that she is excited for the show’s participants.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the reactions of our own participants,” Taday said. “It’s almost like a teacher-student moment to see all the progress the participants have made from day one and watch them walk off stage and feel good about themselves.”
Tickets will be sold Nov. 17 – 21 in the AMU, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 the week of and $12 at the door.
