Many of us know the words to hit songs, whether it’s because we listen to them on repeat or because they are constantly on the radio. Marquette’s greek life uses students’ lip-syncing and dancing abilities and puts them to the test April 2, with their very own Airband.
With the event theme being decades, groups had to stick with songs published in their chosen decade and brought them to life with their dancing and lip-synching abilities. This event features Panhellenic sororities and fraternities, both competing to win the title of Airband Champions and with the main intention of raising money and awareness for Safe and Sound, a community-based response to crime and violence in Milwaukee. The event raised approximately $4,000.
Although many see this event as a competition, the main objective is for Marquette’s greek life to come together to raise awareness and donate to a local organization, with this years being Safe and Sound.
Finley Gresnick, a senior in the College of Communications, is a member and helped co-choreograph Kappa Delta’s 80’s movie themed performance with various songs from famous films.
“I was inspired by my love for 80s movies! My parents raised me being a huge John Hughes fan and I remember falling in love with the comedy and joy it brought into our lives,” Gresnick said.
Although the audience plays a major role in the energy of each performance with their cheering and excitement which encourage those in the performance to leave their all on the stage, there are three judges who are in charge of declaring the sorority and fraternity winner. The six-minute lip-synching performance only had two strict rules – no lifts or tricks – causing many groups to think of other ways to make their performance stand out.
“We all worked so hard as a team and I’m genuinely so proud of all our confident women on stage. We have a variety of different skills from those who danced their whole lives to ones that just picked it up yesterday,” Gresnick said. “We put on the best performance possible and I’m so proud.”
With outfit changes and music mash-ups, many organizations found a way to put their own spin on the competition. Although they were confined by a few rules and themes, some organizations were able to think outside of the box and make their routines unique.
Alex Janey, a sophomore in the College of Engineering and member of Sigma Phi Delta, performed alongside his fraternity brothers to their very own take on the decade’s theme.
“Since the theme was decades, we figured most people would be doing something like the 2000s, ’80s or ’50s, so we decided to do a decade we knew no one else would do, the 3000s,” Janey said. “It was an original idea and we found various songs that matched our theme.”
To fully make themselves stand out, SPD used a decorated grocery cart as their spaceship and dressed members as aliens and NASA members, all to represent the process of getting to the year 3000. With many laughs and some of the latest dance moves, SPD was able to win 3rd place in the fraternity division.
“I am feeling pretty nervous about our performance but overall, I’m super excited! We have only had two practices, so we definitely are not the most prepared, but I am feeling hopeful about our routine,” Maddie Deering, a first-year in the College of Health Sciences and member of the winning sorority team, Alpha Xi Delta, said.
Even with the minimal practices AXD had, they were still able to bring home a first-place win. Each member had their own part which related to the outfit they wore and dances they performed.
As it was based on movies through the decades, with some girls in flannels and hats, while others accessorized with pink items. They used these outfits to tell a story through iconic songs from “The Breakfast Club” and “Hairspray.” Although they did not have elaborate dance moves, they chose moves that were simple and everyone could do in unison.
“Airband is one of the most entertaining events as we not only come together for a common purpose, but we are able to support our friends in other chapters as they dance their hearts out,” Deering said. “Obviously the main part of this event is the philanthropy aspect and I love that we are all able to come together to support a local charity, while also bonding with one another.”
This story was written by Lauren Puthoff. She can be reached at [email protected]
