As temperatures sink into the low 40’s mid-February, San Luis Obispo becomes a ghost town, with students and locals alike relishing in the luxury known as centralized heating. However, in the University Union Plaza, the steady thump of bass and synchronized footsteps wore on and on, with the echoes lasting until the early morning hours.
Bundled up in layers of sweatshirts and beanies lies a cornerstone of Cal Poly’s hip-hop community: United Movement. They were in the middle of what they call “hell week,” an intense title, but given the conditions, perfectly fitting.
United Movement was founded through a love for dance and bolstered through a desire for community. It is a non-tryout hip-hop troupe dedicated to developing new and experienced dancers. While dancers practice year-round for leisure and competitions, the height of their season is marked by multiple performances at Illuminate, an annual dance showcase highlighting various dance clubs on campus.
“Hell week” is the series of rehearsals leading up to Illuminate, where dancers practice routines for hours, ensuring everything is stage-ready for the show.
“Practices can end whenever the choreographer wants,” sophomore dancer Mio Khuyag said. “It could be ending at midnight to 2 a.m.”
Dancers spend this time “cleaning,” a term used in the dance world that describes meticulously examining routines, sharpening movements, formations and specific details or moments.
The mental and physical demands of the week can make for an exhausting combo, as dancers balance school, work, life and attempt to squeeze in a few hours of sleep when they aren’t in rehearsal.
“Dreading hell week is the most difficult part,” senior dancer Ryan Quisol said.
“There are physical challenges, like my back is sore from using every single muscle so I can hit all the levels and all the skills. But there’s also the mental drain it has on me, especially just thinking about how many days I have to stay up late,” he added.
For Khuyag, going through their second hell week doesn’t make it any easier.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re staying late or not,” said Khuyag, “It’s really cold in February. When I’m dancing cold, my wrists freeze up, and it just hurts so much more. And I wake up much more sore the next day, and it’s just harder to move overall.”
For members of UM, hell week is a “trauma” bonding experience. Throughout the hours spent together working relentlessly to perfect their dances, they find a space for community, demonstrating how dance is more than a sport — it’s a family.
“We bond so much because we’re just spending so much time and effort together that you’re bound to be vulnerable with the people around you,” said economics junior and UM socials chair Elise Donaho. “It garners the space of being exhausted, but you’re learning about everyone around you. You’re just having a great time, and it forces you to build community in the best way.”
Hell week became t more than dance— it’s a testament to showing up for one another, even in the cold, late hours and when fatigue is hitting dancers left and right.
While routines in the show may only last a few minutes, the bonds formed by dancers last long after the curtains come down.
For Quisol, this Illuminate will be his last, with his final bow onstage signaling a goodbye to collegiate dance. “It’s been my favorite Illuminate I’ve ever been a part of,” said Quisol. “I’ll miss the free and welcoming aspect of a dance community.”
Even though hell week may be taxing on the body and mind, all of the stress from the endless hours of rehearsal melts away the second they walk onto the stage.
“When you get up there, all that you’ve been through doesn’t seem that bad,” said Quisol. “I hope that everyone in the audience can see all the hard work that went into it.”
