The University of Maryland’s Afrochique Dance Team brought the heat Saturday night at Stamp Student Union’s Hoff Theater, hosting its second annual Next Gen Battles with a surprise twist.
Three African Student Associations from Prince George’s County — Largo High School, Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School and DuVal High School — competed for a $500 cash prize in four rounds of traditional and contemporary African dance styles.
This year’s battle introduced a new element: marching pink guards and red light, green light dance offs, inspired by the viral success of Squid Game season two.
“We were really thinking, ‘What could we incorporate for the students to have fun while dancing, but also playing games at the same time?’” Afrochique president Hillary Konadu, a senior family science major, said.
For the first time, Afrochique assigned prominent local dance coaches to lead each team and help students formulate stylistic choreography.
Afrobeat dancer Enny Makanejuola, who competed against Afrochique as a Bowie State University student in 2022, returned as Largo High School’s coach in the battles.
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With anticipation high in a crowd packed with friends and family, the night began on an ominous note, as two pink guards paced across the stage to Squid Game theme music. An introduction by the charismatic host, LJ the Great, lightened the mood with jokes that sent waves of laughter through the audience.
The battles unfolded over four rounds: creative, traditional, duos and head-to-head freestyle.
In the creative round, students performed open-ended dances with no set theme, allowing them to freely innovate on stage.
Largo’s dancers, dressed as synchronized flight attendants, moved in tandem under the command of a strict pilot, complete with briefcases and metal detector props.
Wise’s team bounced across the stage in pinks and purples as Barbie-esque Afrodolls. DuVal closed with a roaring 1920s flapper routine, cartwheeling and backflipping to a Charleston swing.
For the traditional round, each team was assigned an African country. Largo, DuVal and Wise channelled the Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Cameroon, respectively, as the students weaved national stories of identity and perseverance against political strife.
Energy in the theater reached a fever pitch as cheers erupted, the bass thumped and shrill whistles cut through the air. At times, the entire crowd seemed to move as a cohesive unit to the unceasing rhythm.
The duos round pitted two students from each team against each other. Largo’s dancers simulated an undead puppet master routine, Wise’s students transformed into corporate Barbie dolls and DuVal’s pair battled Squid Game-style in a tense head to head.
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For the final round, freestyle, one student from each team improvised to an African music genre chosen by the DJ. The competition officially ended, but the celebration continued as audience members flooded the stage for a massive group dance that shook Stamp.
“That was the best thing I could ever ask for,” Konadu said. “It was lovely.”
When the judges announced DuVal as the champion, deafening cheers erupted among the audience. Wise placed second and Largo took third.
Afrochique treasurer Chinwe Kalu emphasized how impactful the $500 cash prize could be.
“For some, it may not be a lot, but we know it really carries weight, especially within the dance community,” the junior business marketing and psychology said. “Five hundred can really take you a long way.”
Makanejuola, beaming with pride, had no doubt about the students’ talent.
“They did great,” Makanejuola said. “I’m so proud of them.”
Konadu emphasized the importance of giving high school students a platform through an Afrochique dance battle.
“We love putting on this performance. We love community. We love having the opportunity to bring the high schoolers out of their shell,” Konadu said.
