While some students spend their sophomore summer swimming in the Connecticut River, sunbathing on the Green or training for upcoming pong tournaments, others take the opportunity to try something new and explore their artistic passions. Summerphonix, Dog Days of Summer, SHEBAlite, Splendaplum and Soul Scribes, among other performance groups, feature a diverse and vibrant combination of year-long participants and inexperienced new members who come together to nurture their creative talents through performance. These summer performance groups appeal to students who are intimidated by the competitive nature of the Fall term audition process or just want to try something new. "When I came here as a freshman during Orientation, I was really intimidated because it seemed like all the a cappella groups were so good," Fischer Yan '14 said. "Summerphonix has meant a ton to me because I haven't sang in a group for so long." Cheree Mills '14, a new member of Splendaplum, the summer version of the dance troupe Sugarplum, said she does not have enough time to participate in a group during the school year.
"I knew [Splendaplum] would be a lot chiller than traditional performing groups during the year," she said, "I would have never pictured myself in a dance group before Splendaplum, but the group has been really inviting and made me really happy to join."
Most summer groups require a similar time commitment to year-long groups, although some groups have slightly less time-intensive rehearsal schedules.
SHEBAlite dance troupe's schedule, which is less rigorous than during the school year, involves two to four-hour practices three days each week, according to summer co-director Hayley Brown '14. Improvisational comedy group Dog Days of Summer practices 90 minutes twice per week, which is one practice fewer than during the rest of the school year, according to summer president Chase Klein '14.
Splendaplum, Soul Scribes and Summerphonix the summer version of the coed a cappella group Dodecophonics have the same rehearsal schedule as during the school year. Summerphonix practices six hours a week, Splendaplum rehearses for 90 minutes three times a week and Soul Scribes holds weekly meetings and workshops, according to representatives from each group.
Students, however, said that they have more time for outside activities during the summer due to an easier course schedule and fewer extracurricular and job commitments. At the same time, year-long participants of each performance group take on greater responsibilities and new leadership roles.
Brown said that the three co-directors of SHEBAlite choreograph the dances and take care of the logistical responsibilities for the group. "It's a lot to take on," Brown said. "It's a pretty big responsibility because there are a lot of integral things we need to take care of that you might not see."
Summerphonix co-president Sarah Peck '14 said that the four sophomore members of the Dodecophonics serve as the Summerphonix executives, which also involves an increased time commitment.
"It's a shared effort of the '14s who sing in the group during the year to facilitate the group during the summer," Peck '14 said. "It's really nice to have a bigger role in the group and be able to make music with people through that leadership position."
Even though each group consists of both experienced members and newcomers, students said that developing chemistry between members has been relatively easy. Klein said that the fun and comedic nature of the Dog Days of Summer group has helped develop a close group dynamic.
"What we're doing is having fun and laughing for an hour and a half," Klein said. "It's an environment to make new chemistry."
New participants also said that the year-long members have taught and motivated them extensively throughout the summer.
"The year-long members have so much more experience and have really showed us a lot," Xavier Curry '14, a new participant of Dog Days of Summer, said. "They have let us grow and try different things."
Mills said that the Splendaplum directors have been invaluable in teaching the new members and helping develop the group's chemistry through their leadership.
"The directors are the greatest people in the entire world," she said. "If you don't understand something, they're willing to go over it even outside of practice. It's really easy to mesh with everyone."
Students also said that the performance groups have given them the opportunity to bond with the other participants.
"There's a ton of laughter during practice and there are so many inside jokes," Yan said. "I always feel super energized after practice because the people are so great."
Yan said that the members are supportive of each other outside rehearsals and performances. She said, for example, that most of the members attended the Frost and Dodd Festival, a recent theater production starring Peck, in order to support her.
Mills said that, through the rehearsals and the performances, the members of Splendaplum have become very close.
"It's really like a family," she said. "Everyone's super nice, there's no judgment. It's really open and it's a lot of fun."
