Quiet hums, flashes from digital cameras and quick footwork filled the backstage moments before dances came alive at Illuminate 2026. Dancers arrived at the Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo early the morning of Feb. 21 to get ready in the dressing rooms. Performers touched up their braids, put on their costumes and shared excited […]
Tag: United Movement
Posted inIlluminate 2026
Behind the scenes of United Movement’s production and preparation for Illuminate 2026
It’s nearly midnight at Cal Poly, but at the Performing Arts Center (PAC) loading docks, the music hasn’t stopped. Illuminate, Cal Poly’s largest student-run dance showcase hosted by the dance team, United Movement, brings together dozens of performers representing diverse cultures for two shows on the PAC stage. While audiences see a polished production, the […]
Posted inIlluminate 2026
Dance and determination: Inside United Movement’s intense ‘Hell Week’
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. […]
Posted inOpinion
I did ‘Lose my Breath’ watching Illuminate this year
It’s rare to see jazz, hiphop, Chinese lion dance, Mexican folk dance and ballroom all on the same stage within the span of a single show. Cal Poly students, families and community members were lucky to experience exactly that at Illuminate this past Saturday.
Posted inWatch
Inside Illuminate: Cal Poly’s annual celebration of culture and dance
Illuminate returned to Cal Poly’s Performing Arts Center, bringing together cultural clubs and dance organizations from across campus to share cultural heritage and creative expression in a high-energy student-run dance showcase.
Posted inFeatures
Hmong Student Association to debut at Cal Poly’s Illuminate dance showcase
The Hmong Student Association at Cal Poly will be performing two dances at the Illuminate showcase, featuring a mix of Hmong, Thai and American culture, to raise awareness of the Hmong people and their history.
Posted inFeatures
Cal Poly’s United Movement gives dancers a home away from home
Ten years ago, Katrina Swenson-Aguirre locked herself in her bedroom, determined to teach herself how to dance with nothing but YouTube and a dream. “I always wanted to dance, but I was a really shy child,” Swenson-Aguirre said. Now, English senior Swenson-Aguirre is the co-president of one of Cal Poly’s largest dance teams: United Movement, […]
Posted inNews
Cal Poly’s United Movement returns Feb. 17 with Illuminate Dance Showcase
According to the event’s website, the showcase intends to help both the dancers and audience “connect and understand” while creating “a moment of unity and togetherness” through dance.
Posted inNews
Cal Poly clubs and dance groups celebrate diverse student cultures at CultureFest
On Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., the Multicultural Center held CultureFest, a celebration of the different cultures at Cal Poly in the University Union plaza.
Posted inFeatures, News, Top Stories
The dance team that practices until 1 a.m. for a week straight
There’s a breeze to the crisp evening air. Sweat drips down the side of your face. The choreographer says to run it again, for the fourth time. It’s 11 p.m. on a Monday night. There are still two more hours to go of the first practice of “Hell Week.” Hell Week is a tradition for […]