By Lindsay Robinson | Echo
Grab a ticket and nab a seat. Airband's theme is Taylor Cinema, but it will not be your typical night at the movies. After countless hours of preparation, the show's stars are ready to bring their energetic dances and lip syncing skills to the chapel stage.
"Airband is not an easy activity to put together or rehearse, so the fact that my wing literally laughs through the whole practice about the dance steps that they can't get, or about how silly we feel doing some of the moves, really shows the character of all the girls," sophomore Meghan Gamble said.
She will be dancing along with 26 of her wingmates on First East Olson as they perform "Hannah Montana vs. Miley Cyrus."
Along with the other exciting performances, this year's show boasts three groups that represent more than one dorm on campus, one of which is Gerig and Swallow's act.
"We are called 'Gerig, Swallow and Friends,'" said freshman Grace Foltz. "We have people from all sorts of dorms, but we mainly consist of Gerig and Swallow . . . . It was great for us to make friends with new people that maybe would have otherwise never met."
Residents from Third West Olson and First Breu will be performing "Locked Up," a number literally gone to the jailbirds.
For the seniors involved in this year's senior act "Upside Down," Airband is especially meaningful.
"This experience has brought us together incredibly because, instead of being identified by residence halls or wings, it is about the immersion of seniors in general," senior Allie Mahdasian said. "Our best quality is definitely the all or nothing attitude that our seniors have. We all are definitely ready to go out with a bang."
At the end of the night, a panel of 16 judges-four from each class-will evaluate the quality of each performance.
Although First West Wengatz has won the past three years, that could all end tonight. The wing's star choreographer, Steve Moon,graduated last year.
"I'm excited, sad because Steve graduated and he always put on great shows, but at the same time, I'm excited because now it's free range . . . It's really going to be a toss-up this year," ICC President Mark Grisamore predicted.
Even if they don't win, most of the performers are just happy to be part of what is arguably the biggest tradition on campus.
"I have not been in Airband before, but I have auditioned each year so I am very thrilled to be a part of it this year," junior and Airband group leader Kathryn Brenner said.
If you haven't bought your ticket yet, don't worry. Tickets will be sold at the door. There will be two performances today, with the first one starting at 6:30 p.m. and the other starting at 9 p.m.
