Courtesy of Anquinette Taylor
Addiction Dance Experience hosted its showcase at Florida A&M University’s Lee Hall Saturday.
The show consisted of at least eight different scenes that varied from hip-hop style dance, contemporary dance and gospel.
Addiction Dance Experience, formally known as Essence, has existed since 2011. Founders Tina Maddox and Tracy Young-Byron decided FAMU could use a dance troupe that teaches girls dance while simultaneously cultivating them into a sisterhood of respectable and academically achieved young women.
The troupe was chartered by FAMU students Dennisha Jackson, Domunique Variety, Diona Thurston, Shakara Davis, Empris Lavant, Lachana Williams, Briana Frost and Monique Williams.
The night began with a gospel scene with the song “Break Every Chain” by Tasha Cobbs. This specific scene and the other gospel scene was dedicated to Byron’s late mother.
The dancers draped themselves with long burgundy garments as they opened the showcase up with praise.
Second-year FAMU biology student Terra Fenderson from Miami said each piece kept her wanting more.
“The Addiction Dance Experience showcase was definitely an experience in itself. The dancers expressed their passion for dancing and their individual talents very well,” Fenderson said.
The program continued with seven more scenes that varied in participation sizes.
The songs for the show included ‘“Back Up Off Me” by Dej Loaf, “Fallen For You” by Sam Smith, “You Look Fierce” by Unknown, “Mary Don’t You Weep” by Trin-i-tee :5:7, “Hello” by Adele, a mix of songs from Erykah Badu’s November 2015 mixtape “But You Cain’t Use My Phone,” and ended the last scene with both new and old songs from artist, Nicki Minaj.
First-year pre-nursing student from Miami Dominique Dawson said it was the perfect combination of dance styles.
“My favorite two pieces from the addiction experience were the Erykah Badu piece and “Pink Saturday” by Nicki Minaj. It was the perfect mixture of contemporary and hip-hop,” Dawson said.
Throughout scenes of the show, the troupe featured artist from Voices of Poetry to come and perform. During intermission Images Modeling Troupe Inc. was able to performed.
Maddox said the dance troupe is more like a family.
“Addiction is not just a place where you come to dance and go about your business, we are a full-out family that has true family examples from both founders,” Maddox said.
The expectations are high, so the requirements for dancing exceed average when it comes to preparing for a performance. Second-year criminal justice student and member of Addiction Dance Experience Kenya Clark said the show went as planned because of all the practice.
“The show was smooth because we had intense practice for an entire week, and everything fell into place. We practiced hard so that the dance felt good when it was time to finally perform,” Clark said.
Maddox explained how hard the girls fundraised for the events, and the assistance she received from the 44th Student Senate.
“I do it for my personal love and dance and for their happiness. Dance keeps people sane, and I love to see them happy through dance,” Maddox said.
For the future, Maddox and Byron vow to continue to stir up a unique sisterhood amongst dancers, and showcase why Addiction Dance Experience will never be just dance.
“Hopefully soon we will have an interest meeting or an open workshop for interested people to see what an amazing sisterhood and talent we have to offer,” Clark said.