Mason Rockers Take to the Stage

By Connect Mason Reporter Jacqueline Bowen
Photo by Broadside Photographer Molly Maddra

A collection of bands, solo artists, dancers and one comedian took the stage at the Born to Rock Talent Showcase to perform for their fellow students.

The musical performances ranged from a powerful bare bones acappella rendition of Deborah Cox’s “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here,” by Danielle Scott, to songs with complicated layering effects using loop pedals that made solo performers Ammar Malik and Helton Pereina sound like they had come onstage with full bands.

Cover performances made up the bulk of the event, with performers drawing 'whoops' from the crowd with songs by India Arie, Muse and Jackson 5. One performer, Dan Goldberger, played a sweet and memorable original song he had written for his mother based on a children’s book.

Midway through the show, four volunteers were invited to come up from the crowd to participate in a dance off to celebrate this year’s homecoming theme, Mason Rocks.

At first it seemed no one wanted to step forward, even with the promise of a Mason fleece lauded as “The hotness on the streets.” Still, when three good sports finally emerged, they wound up putting on a wild and fun performance complete with breakdancing and attempted acrobatics that had the audience laughing and cheering at the same time.

Following the dance off, one of the volunteer dancers, Vinny Ali, came back on stage to give a comedy performance studded with cultural references and character acts. Then came GMU Bhangra, which put on a lively performance of the Indian dance form that had people in the front row dancing along in their seats. Their performance won over not only the audience but the judges, earning GMU Bhangra first place in the talent competition at the end of the night.

Urbanknowlogy 101, the combination dance team and Mason class, provided the final act, putting on a tightly choreographed dance routine to a medley of songs including “Feedback” by Janet Jackson. When repeated technical problems interrupted their routine, the dancers and the crowd picked up the song where the recording had left off until the music could be restarted.

The Born to Rock Talent Showcase was organized by the George Mason University Program Board, and is part of the lineup of homecoming events going on all this week.