With illuminating stage lights and ornate costumes, the Fairfield University Dance Ensemble (FUDE) dancers took the Quick Center stage this past Saturday to showcase their artistry and their love of dance. Dance is a unique form of self expression leading there to be an innate connection between artists that share the passion.
FUDE is the largest student run club on campus with about 100 members representing eight distinct dance styles: Broadway Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, Tap, Irish, Jazz, and Ballet. Each style captures the essence of “embracing the movement”.
President Kallie Ouellette said coming up with a theme was not a linear process. The board decided on the finale song “Evacuate the Dance Floor” before choosing an overall theme to this year’s showcase. “Embrace the Movement” came naturally to the group of talented dancers as those three words are their hope for dance every time they take a step on stage. The FUDE performances are about embracing community, dancing and how the art form has formed the lives of these Fairfield University dancers.
Kallie shared that she did not have intentions to continue dancing when coming into college. With finding FUDE, however, she found her “happy medium.”
“Over the years FUDE has turned into a lot more than a club full of dancers, but it’s more of a family and RecPlex L02 has turned into our home,” she said. “Getting to close out as president and the choreographer of two styles is so rewarding and I can’t wait to see what FUDE grows into in the future.”
The Fairfield Fálite, Fairfield U’s competitive Irish Dance Team that acts as an extension to FUDE, performed traditional dances such as the “Riverdance” dedicated to the team’s senior members. Sophomore Maddie Weilage, who choreographed the routine, said “I enjoyed taking on the leadership role of choreographing, which is familiar at my home studio. The whole underclassmen team put our minds together, and chipped into putting lines they wanted into the dance.”
A showstopper routine for the Fáilte team was “Beat It,” a modern Irish twist on the classic Michael Jackson song. From the electric black tie and hat costumes to the dynamic moves, Maddie shared that it felt like a crowd-pleaser while on stage.
The dance numbers displayed mellow pieces such as “If You Love Me” choreographed by Mason Macuch and Kathryn Young to the Sienna Sapiro song “You Stole the Show”. The routine did just that. A beautiful lyrical routine that combined heartfelt imagery with coordination between dancers portrayed a love story. Emotions were felt by audience members.
Sophomore Trista Oulette choreographed four dances with topics ranging from themes of self-confidence, family, and most centrally dance. She shared that being able to experience dancing on the Quick Center stage with her sister was a remarkable experience. She had the chance to choreograph a hip hop piece with Kallie, a new venture for Trista as she has typically choreographed contemporary.
Trista said, “We played around with different styles as well as different dynamics. Being able to create a piece we were really excited about and see it come to life was so fulfilling, and I would not have wanted to do it with anyone else.”
The traditional “Swan Lake” choreographed by Maggy Mcenaney showcased ballet in an exquisite and delicate manner. The dancers floated across the stage to the wondrous melody. The showcase also highlighted fun, upbeat routines such as tap mashups to “Mr. Worldwide,” a Pitbull mashup dedicated to friendship, happiness and the memories made through dance. The “Gaga” contemporary and hip hop mashup choreographed by Ainsley Eaton, who is following Kallie in the role as president next year, dedicated this stylish dance to the seniors.
Trista is excited for the future of FUDE and how it will continue to grow and evolve, yet remain a sacred home for student dancers. “Ainsley Eaton, our President for next year, will be a hardworking and fun leader who will continue to foster a supportive and energetic environment. I am so grateful for the happiness and fulfillment that FUDE has brought me these past two years, and I couldn’t imagine my college life without it.”
The 2026 FUDE show encapsulated what dance means on a grander scale: how a single movement can portray emotions, instill hard work, and build a network of dancers present and that have come before.
FUDE will be offering open dance classes for students on Tuesdays, April 14 and April 28 in the RecPlex L02. If you or someone you know are interested in taking part of this special community, you can check out their instagram @fudanceensemble or their Life@Fairfield page.
