CMU's Rampage Dance Team back with a vengeance
Central Michigan University's Rampage Dance Team fired up debuting their first showcase performance Thursday night in Pearce 128, turning up the heat with moves their President described as, "energetic and sensuous."
Rampage Dance Team is a fast growing dance organization at CMU. In December of 2012, the four original founding members broke with another group that they felt was restricting them.
"We felt like we couldn't dance and express ourselves the way we wanted," said junior Markitaa Kleckley, president of Rampage. "We were angry that it went downhill and we couldn't perform, so we came back with a vengeance. We came back to rampage."
Rampage was introduced Thursday by Inkster senior Crystal Bradford, who was recently drafted as the No. 7 pick for the WNBA Los Angeles Sparks.
"These girls have been practicing for months and months," Bradford said. "They know I like to talk, so they asked me to host."
The girls were joined by CMU's Fish N' Chips, who opened for the showcase by singing Sam Smith's "Stay With Me," and R. Kelly's "Ignition."
Fish N' Chip's singer, sophomore Jack Colpitts, better known as "Bones" in the group, said they were glad to accept the invitation to open at Rampage's event.
"They're coming for our concert this Saturday, and we wanted to come perform with them so we could all showcase our talents," Colpitts said.
Kleckley said Rampage is not structured like the average dance team.
"We're built on sisterhood," Kleckley said. "We don't have a captain or a leader, we have an elected executive board, and coaches."
Kleckley has been the president of Rampage for two semesters, but she is stepping down next year as a senior to coach and allow someone else to be president of Rampage, with the hopes that they will continue the spirit of the group.
Kleckles said that the group's performances were going to start off "swaggerful," and move to full on sensual as the Rampage girls leapt, spun, split and shook in time to fast pumping music.
Fans were screaming and cheering out of their seats as the girls danced in a clearly well choreographed but spontaneous performance.
"This is a judge free zone," Bradford announced between sets. "It's not Apollo, we don't wanna hear no booing."
CJ The Gifted, or DJ CJ, laid down tracks for performances from Rampage, GVSU's Rebellion Dance Team, Nicos Phoenix and Cassius Tae. Fish N Chips performed a capella.
"Our group is about more than dancing and showcasing our talent," Kleckley said. "We also host an auction with all of the proceeds going to Detroit's Children's Hospital and we participate in the MLK Walk."
Detroit freshman Marcus Miller said he was impressed with the performance.
"I am a performer here on campus too," Miller said. "I know the girls so I came out to support their first showcase."
The team said that this showcase is going to become an annual performance for Rampage to showcase their talents and improvements.
