A full house packed Charles Winter Wood Theatre Tuesday night for the annual preview performance of the FAMU Connection touring company, who is celebrating 125 years of Florida A&M history.
Fifty minutes of high-energy dance numbers relayed through soul gripping vocals, transcended the rich history of FAMU for over 200 cheering audience members.
Director of the FAMU Connection and theater department chair, Luther Wells, welcomed audience members.
The house lights dimmed and musicians of the live band for the night took their seats.
Out came the members of the Connection one by one, bursting into the audience with orange and green intensity corralling students to their feet.
The women of the Connection wore silver sequenced lined dresses that complimented their shimmery silver shoes. While the men of the Connection donned black suits with a punch of either orange or green button ups.
The Connection introduced themselves one by one with musical backing from the band.
The high-energy stream of over ten dance numbers and showgirl moves began and never stopped.
“I truly feel like I am at the best school in the country. FAMU has done great things and the Connection made me notice that even more tonight,” said Christina Lennard, a first-year political science student from Palm Beach.
Each song intensified FAMU pride in audience members, as tad bits of FAMU history were laced in such songs such as “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now”, “Celebrate, and “God Loves the FAMUANs”.
One of the songs performed celebrated and thanked all former university presidents.
Luther Wells, who has been directing the FAMU Connection since 1997, begins preparation for the Connection from the summer to ensure audience members leave with the best impression of FAMU.
“It’s really all about trying to encourage and excite people about FAMU and choosing an institution that offers a respective experience of higher learning,” Wells said.
For members of the Connection they must physically train to gain the stamina needed to put on a high-energy 50-minute show.
“It’s really grueling, we have rehearsals every day. It’s tiring but in the end we enjoy it so much and the finished product is worth it,” said Nia Jamison-Sissle, a Connection member and second-year theater student from Tallahassee.
At the end of the night, performer’s shirts were drenched and audience school spirit was on a high as they stood to their feet in applause.