When I came to Ithaca, I knew I wanted to dance. I had been dancing since I was 5, and I knew that joining a dance group would help make the transition into college a lot easier for me. I was intimidated trying out for the Ithaca College Dance Team; I knew that the team was mostly upperclassmen, and they were extremely skilled dancers. When I found out about IC Unbound and all the different types of dances I could try out for, I immediately joined. I was in two jazz dances my first semester. Practicing for the show was such a great way to meet new people and have something to do at night. It was really great, and helpful, to be able to take my childhood love of dance to college. -- Courtney
Look for fliers posted around campus during the first few weeks of each semester saying where and when the auditions will be. Anyone can audition, so feel free to show up and bring some friends! And check out our website!
Lauryn Tillery ’07 has a hard time standing still. The drama major’s high energy level sustains her as she goes continuously from one dance practice to another. Tillery is a member of the Ithaca College Dance Team; Rhythm ‘n Shoes, IC’s tap dance club; and IC Breakers, a break dancing group. While the dance team is very competitive and tap club is tons of fun, Tillery’s main passion is IC Unbound.
“It really has become my main existence up here at school,” Tillery says.
IC Unbound is a dance club on campus run entirely by students. Members choreograph the dances, design the lighting, pick out and edit the music, and correspond with the proper offices to book rooms for performances and hire the audio/video staff.
“It’s all in our hands,” explains Tillery. “It makes a lot of work for the dancers, even more work for the choreographers, and the most work for those of us on the board, but the end result is definitely worth it.”
There are two IC Unbound shows per year, one at the end of each semester. The dances range from tap, jazz, and ballet to hip hop, musical theater, and modern. Students have the option of doing large group dances, small group dances, solos, duets, or quartets. Some dancers buy matching ballerina skirts, whereas others rip old sweatshirts they have from home. The music choice ranges from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra to Justin Timberlake. In short -- anything goes.
“It’s so interesting to see how creative people can get,” Tillery says. “Each semester, we get so many different dances. What I like best about IC Unbound is the whole process—individual choreographers come together and create a huge show at the end of the semester. I enjoy being able to see what everyone has come up with.”
One thing Tillery focuses on strongly as a choreographer is inclusivity. When Tillery was a freshman, IC Unbound consisted mainly of upperclassmen who were advanced dancers. The club has since evolved to include students from all dance levels.
“It has always been really important to me to include as many people as we could,” Tillery says. “I remember being a freshman and showing up and being scared out of my mind and wanting to dance but not really knowing how to go about it or knowing anyone.”
Tillery has choreographed 11 dances for Unbound in her four years at IC and has danced in 41, but members can be involved at whatever level they choose.
“Unbound is a club where you really can pick your involvement. If you only want minimal time commitment, then limit yourself to one dance; if you want to be crazy like me then do five. It can be as big or as little of a commitment as you want,” Tillery says.
One of the greatest parts about IC Unbound, besides the opportunity to create and perform original dances, is the sense of community that is formed among the dancers.
“My best friends at Ithaca have all gotten close because of all of our involvement in the club,” Tillery says.
On April 22nd, Tillery danced in her last Unbound show.
“I had a long cryfest after my last dance got offstage because I was so sad,” Tillery says. “I'd been holding it in all day, but finally I let it all out after the senior dance and after the bows. It’s just so hard to comprehend that something that has been the center of my life for four years is over.”
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Fuse is a student produced publication about the Ithaca College experience. All content in the print and web versions of Fuse is developed by current Ithaca College students in a breadth of different areas of study.
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