Dancing is one of the greatest forms of entertainment we have today. In fact, dance has been around since before written communication. Archaeologists trace dance back to prehistoric times where thousands-year-old paintings in Egyptian tombs depict figures engaging in complex gymnastics and dance moves, presumably for religious ceremonies and/or recreation.
According to the Egyptian Gods website, Bēs, the Egyptian god of dance, was often featured dancing with a tambourine. This makes it clear to us that both music and dance, which we often intertwine today, were used in conjunction even in ancient times. But despite dance’s long history, we are still in awe by the intricate movements, flexibility, and rhythmic motions modern dancers feature today.
We are especially in awe by the Carroll Senior High’s varsity dance group, the Emerald Belles, and their Showmakers of America Dance Competition 2018 performance. Dressed head to toe in sparkly, blue one-pieces and tight hair buns, the dancers’ Daft Punk high-kick routine is the perfect example of a complex and enjoyable show.
Towards the beginning of the dance, the lovely dancers all lay flat in a triangular-like formation with one leading dancer standing in the center who later places one leg upright to signal the rest of the dancers to begin the performance. At the start of the Daft Punk’s “Around the World,” the ladies lying down kick up their legs into the air and roll over before elegantly arching their backs to stand, join arms, and high kick to the beat of the music. Just 40 seconds in and the Emerald Belles are already off to a confident start!
One of the best parts of the performance, according to the cheers coming from the audience, is when the dancers form three circles. The girls connect to one another with straight arms and a pointed right leg and then bend their torsos down, practically disappearing with their matching outfits as the song shifts from Daft Punk’s “Technologic” to “One More Time.”
Every kick, turn, toe point, knee bend, and twist we witness from the Emerald Belles surges us with new energy and excitement throughout the performance. The various shapes and other formations the dancers make as they frequently break off into smaller segments and come back together is exciting in itself. And we won’t even begin on the girls’ amazing synchrony!
As the dancers end their routine back in a triangular formation, the audience bursts out in cheers. While the ladies might make each of their moves look simple, that routine surely took a lot of practice, memorization, energy, and sweat (and in my case, probably muscle aches, ankle sprains, hip impingement, and tears).
In all seriousness, words cannot describe the full complexity and beauty of this dance. Make sure you watch the Emerald Belles’ performance below!
