This March, Northwestern students will put on RUSH, the college’s annual student run dance concert. This year, RUSH will be a total of six performances. The concert will include dances from a variety of genres and will be performed by students of all ranges of dance experience.
RUSH was created in 2004 out of a vision for inclusion. Becky Donahue, a NW alumnus, and several friends dreamed up the idea of putting on a dance concert in which anyone was welcome to dance, regardless of their body type, abilities or training—all that mattered was nurturing a love for the art of dance. That sentiment and spirit is part of why RUSH has persisted over the years as one of NW’s longest running annual traditions.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic prevented a live performance of the concert in 2020 and required many restrictions on events for the 2021 performance, RUSH has suffered in student engagement. The only students who have been able to experience a true RUSH are this year’s seniors, who desperately love the event and want to pass it on to the underclassmen now that this year looks to be more “normal.”
Senior Rebekah Phifer said, “This year’s RUSH is extra special because for the freshman, sophomores and juniors, this is our first real RUSH.” She went on to explain how important RUSH is to the campus community at large, “It is really meaningful because it brings parts of campus to work together on one common goal. RUSH shows the unity and perseverance of NW students in a way that is beautiful.”
As with every year, the dance lineup is promising and diverse. Sophomore Frances DeArmond will be leading a K-pop summer mashup that she arranged herself. The dance will feature the real choreography done by K-pop groups in the songs “Hot Sauce” by NCT Dream, “Wave” by Ateez, “Hola Hola” by KARD, “Dance the Night Away” by Twice, “After School” by Weekly, “Zoo” by NCT and Aespa and “No Rules” by TXT.
“I chose a summer mashup because of the unique vibes with summer releases,” DeArmond said. “And I’m sure we’ll all be wishing for summer by the time RUSH rolls around!” she joked.
In addition to K-pop, other genres like hip-hop, musical theatre, tap and ballet/contemporary will be featured. Junior Brea Carr is returning to the RUSH stage for the third time as a choreographer with a hip-hop routine to the song “High Hopes” by Panic! at the Disco. “I have been working on this routine since last year,” she said. “I really enjoy the upbeat tempo.”
Senior Angie Wintering will also be choreographing to a PATD song- the band’s cover of “The Greatest Show” for a musical theatre number in her second year as a RUSH choreographer. She hopes the end result will be “bombastic and energetic, but also able to breathe.”
Phifer is excited to choreograph for RUSH for the first time with a tap number to “Kiwi” by Harry Styles. “Kiwi is such a unique song to tap to, so it was a fun challenge to choreograph,” she said.
Rebekah and Jamie Stoscher are a pair of first-time choreographers as well. The sibling duo have choreographed a contemporary/ballet dance to the song “Maybe It’s Ok” by We Are Messengers.
“The lyrics to the song are important,” Phifer, said. “I hope [the message] is encouraging to others who may be keeping all their struggles inside. I believe it is important to share when you are not doing okay and receive support from loved ones.”
RUSH will be performed the evenings of March 24-26 with a Saturday matinee as well. Come support your fellow Raiders in this beautiful event! 
