By Chrysa Keenon | Contributor
Are your fellow students lip syncing and dancing like nobody's watching? You might be experiencing the symptoms of Airband fever. It is no secret that a lot of late nights are spent perfecting the synchronized jazz square. As some nights can be longer than others, here are ways you can make the most out of your Airband practice experience.
- Don't take yourself too seriously. Airband is all about the fun. There are no serious prizes, and even if you get bragging rights, there is no need to have extreme mental breakdowns about who lifts who. Remember that if you feel stupid doing something, you probably look really good. In the words of freshman Annika Nord, "Your tuition does not depend on your Airband performance, so it can suck."
- No shoes, no socks, no problem! Practicing in the aerobics room in the KSAC or gym might get a little dangerous without any traction, so taking off your socks is a wise idea when rehearsing without your shoes. Airband moves are dangerous enough already, and sliding around in socks often causes many injuries. Take off those socks and let your feet be free!
- Join friends. Dorms such as Swallow and Breuninger are often too small to form their own Airband teams, so they team up. If your wing or floor is not participating in Airband and you still want to be a part of the fun, join another dorm's squad. As long as there are people who have a passion for lipsyncing and dancing, a team can be formed. One team, singing a song from the Broadway hit Hamilton, has no affiliation whatsoever with a dorm. "We are just Theater majors who love Hamilton," said freshman member Bradley Jensen. "We're in it for the stunning choreography."
- Be nice to each other. This seems obvious but remember, respect is a two-way street. Sure, waking up early on a Saturday morning to go to Airband practice isn't the ideal way to spend a weekend, but keeping a positive attitude will give a better outcome. Airband is a group effort, and if you are not having fun, it shows in your performance.
- When in doubt, breakdance it out. If you get lost in the choreography and have no idea why everyone is suddenly twirling when you thought you were jumping, don't fret. Learning dance moves is hard. Creating your own moves is fun, and it will might even look like part of the show if you don't lose your cool.
