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The Sophian

Tethering Groove at Mount Holyoke: Dance Showcase Highlights Diaspora and Intimacy

Tethering Groove, the Mount Holyoke dance department’s senior performance, showcases pieces choreographed by five students and featuring dancers of many backgrounds, even including dancers from other schools. The two-night dance performance garnered an audience from across the Five College Consortium as well — with students from Smith, Mount Holyoke, and UMass in attendance.

Marching to The Beat of a Different Drum; A Night of Ska at Race Street Live

On Sunday night, April 16, The English Beat closed a warm spring weekend with a lively performance at Race Street Live in Holyoke, MA. Hailing all the way from Birmingham, England, frontman Dave Wakeling is the only original member left of what used to be known as The Beat, the iconic ska-soul-punk fusion band that defined the genre back in the 1980s. At 67 years old, Wakeling has been touring with a backup band of ska musicians in an effort to keep “the beat” alive and well. Holyoke was one among many stops on their current US tour. 

The Persistence of Parsons House

For many prospective Smithies, house community is a critical aspect to their college decision. With Smith’s distinct neighborhoods and decades-long house traditions, these established support systems help first-years feel less adrift in this new stage of their lives. But despite being touted as a hallmark of the Smith experience, the traditional house community isn’t available to all students. For residents of Parsons House, it’s what they're trying to build. For residents of Talbot, it’s something they’ll need to fight to preserve. 

Joy and Collaboration: Indie Band Moxie’s WOZQ Homecoming

It’s November of 2019 and indie pop artist Samia headlines WOZQ’s annual fall concert, with indie rock band Moxie opening. I am a first year with choppy bangs just getting involved with the radio station, excited to go to my first WOZQ concert. The indie rock band Moxie goes on at 8:00 p.m., to an energetic Davis Ballroom full of Smithies. Rei Kimura, on vocals and guitar, guides the crowd through their 30-minute jam-packed set, making sure to get everyone involved with Daniel Snyder’s rhythmic drumming by giving a clapping beat to follow. Leander Holzapfel’s riffs and Inky Cohen’s smooth bass capture the crowd, especially on ‘Blue Skies,’ their 2018 hit about naivety, which many Smithies sing along to, word for word. I walk away from this performance exhilarated, not only by how much this band rocks but especially by finding out that they are about my age. 

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