Air filled with fog, changing lights, and a mixture of colorful outfits, music and dancing filled the theatre stage on Thursday.

The EIU Dancers Company and Club combined to perform 17 dance routines composed by various members of the group and guest choreographers from other dance groups.

Antoine Thomas, a training and development specialist for the Center for Academic Technology Support and an adviser for the EIU Dancers, said he thought the performance went great.

“Any opportunity that the dancers can have to display their passions is a success,” Thomas said. “But I have to say they made me proud (Thursday).”

The dance styles ranged from ballet to hip-hop, to step dancing and tap, as well as an Indian style dance. The music also ranged in variety.

Songs such as “Little Bird” by Annie Lennox, “Fever” by Beyonce, “Breathe (2 a.m.)” by Anna Nalick, and “Moulin Rouge” by Lady Marmalade provided the background for each of the dance routines.

Bruce Brillmeyer, a Tinley Park resident, said he liked the performance.

“I loved the difference in genres between the dances and the different costumes,” Brillmeyer said.

Thomas said the performance this semester was pushed up by about a month and the dancers had a short amount of time to learn their routines.

Kristlyn Dalton, a graduate student and an EIU Dancer, said she felt the performance went great.

“It got pushed up by four weeks, so everything was a little more rushed than usual, but I think it really came together well and we had a lot of help from the crew here, and I think that made a world of difference,” she said.

Trish Garvey, a senior kinesiology and sports studies major and an EIU Dancer, said she loved performing.

“Every single time I get that feeling of nervousness or excitement, no matter how many times I perform,” Garvey said. “It is just a feeling that you really can not explain, if you never felt this way.”

Dalton helped choreograph two pieces: one routine was called Wait with the song “Maps” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs., The other routine was 2 a.m. with the song “Breathe (2 a.m.)”.

Dalton said her favorite routine was 2 a.m.

“My favorite dance was the duet I did with Nicki (Sheridan), she is my roommate and best friend,” Dalton said. “It was really fun to make it up together and perform in front of everyone.”

Garvey said her favorite routine was Alive on the Inside with the song “How it Ends” by DeVotchKa.

“I just love how we could all do whatever we wanted to with our costumes, everyone is one stage, it was a very flowy contemporary dance,” Garvey said. “There were a variety of different things going on everywhere you looked too.”

Denise Kavanaugh, an Elwood resident, sad she liked the performance.

“It was amazing,” Kavanaugh said. “It was very artistic.”

Dalton said she thinks the audience liked the performance.

“Last year, the audience was a little bit louder during the dances, but this year they seemed to kind of save it to the end,” Dalton said. Denise Kavanaugh, an Elwood resident, sad she liked the performance.

“It was amazing,” Kavanaugh said. “It was very artistic.”

Dalton said she thinks the audience liked the performance.

“Last year, the audience was a little bit louder during the dances, but this year they seemed to kind of save it to the end,” Dalton said.

Dalton also said the audience makes performing fun.

“It’s kind of an adrenaline rush, so it is really fun,” Dalton said. “And it is really great to meet all the girls and guys.”

Garvey said the EIU Dancers allows you to make new friends.

“Throughout the year, you just develop a bond with all the girls and guys, everyone is kind of on that one page and has a common denominator.”

Amber Chatman, a senior communication studies major, said she dances for a dance group also.

“I came to get ideas and inspiration and to just see how other dance organizations work on campus,” Chatman said.

Thomas said his favorite part of the performance was seeing dancer perform.

“My favorite part about the show is seeing the growth and development of my dancers,” Thomas said. “I truly believe that what makes this company, or group, special is that they really do bond and I try to stress to them all that it is us that makes this possible.”

Samantha McDaniel can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].