Blackman Auditorium transformed into a world of happily ever afters April 2 at Greek Sing, an annual dance competition featuring Northeastern’s Panhellenic sororities and fraternities in the Interfraternity Council. This year the competition raised over $79,000.
In preparation for the event, fraternities and sororities are paired together at the beginning of the spring semester to choreograph, practice and execute a dance performance. This year’s theme was “Once Upon a Time,” meaning each partnership chose a different classic fairytale to inspire their performance. Each team has 50 dancers, including two or three student coaches, known as “dance moms and dads,” who choreograph the dances, plan costumes and technical elements for the performance and act as the coaches for their organization.
“It is the one time where all of Greek life comes together and has a good time. Everyone has their own stuff going on, but we all get to Blackman and just enjoy Greek Sing, dancing or watching the performance,” said Mahir Singal, a third-year business administration major and dance dad for Kappa Sigma.
Scoring is determined by a combination of the dance logistics and theatrics. This year, two new scoring categories were added; the “crowd favorite” point is decided by the audience members, who vote for their favorite performance. The second point measures the appropriateness of the dance, which is determined by a panel of judges. This year, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Sigma Phi Epsilon got their fairytale ending, taking home first place for their performance, which was inspired by “The Wizard of Oz.”
“Once they announced second place, all the dance parents slumped in their seats — we were convinced we weren’t going to place. It was a total shock this year when they announced us. There’s really no feeling like it,” said Emerson Elsberry, a second-year behavioral neuroscience major who was a dance mom for Kappa Kappa Gamma.
Alpha Epsilon Phi and Alpha Kappa Sigma placed second, and third place went to Delta Zeta and Delta Kappa Epsilon.
In the months leading up to the performance, the paired organizations fundraise for a common goal. This year, the fraternities and sororities raised money for the Boston Center for Youth and Families, or BCYF, which manages a network of more than 30 community facilities that provide programs including education, summer camps, aquatics and childcare to families in the city. BCYF is located in Mission Hill, a residential neighborhood populated by many Greek life students.
“We love Mission Hill. I love my house on the Hill, and it’s good to know our donations are going to a tangible cause in our neighborhood,” said Gregory Marchev, a third-year business administration and data science combined major who is in Alpha Epsilon Phi.
Four pairings raised over $10,000 each this semester for BCYF. The competition winners, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Sigma Phi Epsilon, fundraised the highest sum, contributing a staggering $16,000 to the event.
“Philanthropy is a big thing that fraternities and sororities at Northeastern stand on. We are always running philanthropy events. Greek Sing is such a great way to do it,” said Ben Pastore, a second-year business administration major who was Sigma Phi Epsilon’s dance dad.
Beginning in January, teams practiced six to eight hours a week and ramped up rehearsals closer to the performance. Their hard work paid off in the end, and everyone in the crowd screamed and cheered as the sororities and fraternities performed.
“It’s so impressive how good all the dancers are, considering they’re amateurs and it’s students making the choreographies. The level of the performances for people being students is insane,” said Eimear Tully, a fourth-year international business major, who cheered from the balcony as her Chi Omega sisters performed. “It’s one of my favorite events on Northeastern campus because of the energy.”
Pastore reflected on his experience as a performer this semester.
“I think there’s something about having the spotlights on you, it’s your time to shine,” Pastore said. “I was really excited in that moment, for the opportunity to show everyone what we have been practicing for.”
Greek Sing brings Northeastern Greek life together, challenging them to fundraise for a common goal and perform against each other. Along the way, a community is built that grows year after year.
“Everyone in Greek life really unites over some little dance thing that I never thought I’d do,” Marchev said. “When I look back at college, when I’m way older and think of what defines these years, I’d have to say a big part of it is Greek Sing.”
Brady Melnick, a second-year computer engineering and computer science combined major who was a dance dad for Sigma Phi Epsilon, believes in the importance of recognizing this feat of fundraising and community building.
“I think the philanthropy and raising over $75,000, being able to meet different Greek organizations and creating this community is something that shouldn’t go unnoticed,” Melnick said.
