Defining Movement (defMo) Showcase - April 17th, 2010
The class of 2010 was one of skill, depth, and commitment. A six person class, with many of Dhamaka's best dancers, everyone on stage at defMo Showcase knew what this meant - the beginning of a transformation and a rebuilding. Yet before that process began, the team had one last hurrah together, and they sure did make the most of it. In front of one of the loudest audiences Dhamaka performs for, the six seniors and the underclassmen alike gave it everything they had. With our unique formations (spelling out D-U-K-E on stage and spotlighting our two captains with arrows) and our powerful and energy filled choreography, we ended the 2009-2010 season on fire.
USC Aag Ki Raat (Competition) - April 3rd, 2010
Aag Ki Raat was an interesting competition in that it was not the dancers' first priority on April 3rd. Typically the dancers wait 1-2 months working up for such a competition, but in this case, they were quick to assert that they had waited several years for Duke's appearance in the Final Four which happened on the same night. Competing alongside Duke DBS Raas, Dhamaka put together an incredibly clean performance, but the dancers raced down to the dressing rooms immediately after, to be greeted by 5-7 computers streaming the game from South Carolina. While we did not reach our goals at the competition on the podium, the dancers will again remember that we reached our goals as a University, moving on to the championship game against Butler University. The team even seriously contemplated driving straight from South Carolina to Indianapolis to support the basketball team in the finals. We won the championship that Monday night, and so forever this competition will be linked with the missed shot by Butler and the day Goliath proved its dominance over David. Watch our performance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQWhBTxzXiY
Or watch the final minute of the championship game :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB00wfyuQjY
Or watch the final minute of the championship game :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB00wfyuQjY
Virsa Punjab Da (Competition) - February 27th, 2010
Dhamaka was extremely proud to be invited to compete in a star studded lineup at VPD 2010. Traveling all the way to the Carolina Theater (sarcasm implied), Dhamaka felt like it was defending its "home court" with the support of countless Duke students, local friends, and family members. The team performed incredibly well, and while it didn't place, it received the praise from almost every other competing team, got high marks from the judging panel, and was seen as a national contender. The dancers, however, will remember this competition by the rumor that the team did not place because it was too clean. The importance of individual nakreh and grace was held paramount at VPD (an exceedingly traditional competition), but the team held to the "too clean" mantra and remained justifiably proud of the performance.
Lunar New Year (LNY) - February 20th, 2010
LNY this year meant more to Dhamaka than it usually does. A week before a competition, LNY was not only an incredibly important and visible on-campus performance, but in ways it was a test for the team's competition readiness. Dhamaka was ready. This performance gave the team confidence and swagger, and really energized the dancers for the competition week preparations that would have to occur over the next few days. Dhamaka even tried the "warm color" look with the outfits, rotating out the blue and green for warmer red and peach vardiyaan. LNY was an incredibly fun performance, and really prepared the team well for VPD 2010.