“I can say with confidence that I genuinely feel like I’m part of a family,” asserted United Groove Dance Project’s co-VP Fundraising, Andrea Alcaraz (BA Ed.’27). “As cheesy and corny as that sounds, I finally understand what people mean when they say their life changed after making meaningful connections.”
Formed in 2003, the McGill dance club is primarily known for its original hip hop choreography and performances, though the group showcases different styles depending on its members’ interests.
This year’s group has 28 dancers from various academic programs, including international students and grad students.
They regularly perform off campus: in late November, United Groove performed a sold-out show along with dance groups from around Montreal.
Growing as dancers and individuals
Students with different dance backgrounds and skill levels – including anyone just interested in joining the group – are encouraged to participate in workshops and auditions.
“Yes, UG is a dance group, so we do care about dance skills, but we’re mainly looking for personality,” said Alcaraz. “Do you have a positive attitude? Are you happy to be there? Do you genuinely enjoy dance? Are you helping others with the choreography?”
Once in the group, dancers are encouraged to take charge of their own routines, from selecting the song to finalizing costumes.
“UG is self-run, and everyone is on a level playing field, whether they’re execs or not,” explained Sean Cheng (BSc’28), the club’s VP Tech. “A big part of UG is creating the choreography, without the help of teachers like at traditional dance schools. I got to co-choreograph the Intro dance, which is the opening number, with the whole group last year when I was still a rookie. It was my first time choreographing for a show, and I’m incredibly grateful for the experience.”
A place for mutual support
Key to the club’s continued success is how much the dancers support each other. Creating and executing a group routine, organizing practices and rehearsals, and completing class assignments on time can quickly get overwhelming without a little help from friends.
“We are all really down for each other,” said Alcaraz. “We’ll check in on each other randomly throughout the week, we’ll all go to concerts together, or go thrifting. Sundays are practice days, so we’re together for basically the whole day, and we’ll often go to eat or study afterward. If a member needs help with something outside of school, they can reach out, and someone will always be there. None of it is forced.”
According to Vivian Zhao (BCom’27), United Groove’s VP Internal, working in a team also keeps the dancers disciplined and accountable, but always with the spirit of collaboration in mind.
“The execs give us a lot of opportunity to ask them for support,” she said. “That’s really helped my communication skills, because I’ve never felt uncomfortable letting the group know where I’m at with a choreo.”
Levelling up
For many of the dancers, joining United Groove has advanced their personal development.
“I think that it’s so important to put yourself in situations where you will be uncomfortable because you never know what you’re going to get out of it,” said Zhao. “I was really nervous going into my audition because I didn’t know what to expect, but it was such a great experience!”
Cheng, too, underlines that involvement in UG has had a positive impact.
“The club has really helped to shape me into who I am,” said Cheng. “When you start university, often it’s the beginning of your adult life and you’re figuring out how to move through the world. Being part of this team since I started at McGill has really made an impact because I learned a lot from the people in the group – how to work in a team, the responsibility of being an exec. But it’s also been an important creative outlet, one I get to share with others.”