Campus Spotlight: Performers take the stage in ‘Kappa Karaoke’

Laura Shapiro
Kristin McGrath

In a tiny white skirt, bouncy golden locks and lips painted to ruby-red perfection, freshman Dan Densen of Kappa Sigma Fraternity was ready for the performance of a lifetime.

“Our routine is pretty incredible,” said Densen. “I’m not gonna lie. It’s the best dance ever created. We’ve spent many a late night working on it, but it’s definitely worth it.”

The Greek community packed the Gargoyle on Wednesday for “Kappa Karaoke,” Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority’s annual philanthropy event. The karaoke competition features performances from Wash U’s fraternities and sororities and raises money for Cochran Community Center, which offers after-school programs for the city’s youth.

“A lot of the kids that go [to the Center] have very unstable home lives and don’t have anywhere to go after school,” said junior G.G. Garbe, Philanthropy Chair for Kappa Kappa Gamma. “The center provides them with a place to go. Throughout the week we raise money, and we also collect hundreds of children’s and young adult books that we donate to the center.”

The amounts of donations and skills on stage were factored into the performers’ final score in the competition. According to freshman Hao Wei He, who played both Densen’s “angel” and “lover” in Kappa Sig’s touching production of Real Life’s “Send Me An Angel,” Kappa Sig expected no problems in the performance department.

“We’re going to have a lot of sexy dancing,” said He. “We’re going to feed off the crowd, and if we’re not perfect, that’s OK, because the more ridiculous we are, the better.”

Although small in number, Chi Omega’s six-member performance ensemble hoped to make a big impact with its 80s-themed production.

“We’re going a little bit old-school,” said senior Leslie Williams. “We’re going to have fun and be sexy but goofy as well. We have a small group on purpose. All these girls really want to put themselves out there.”

The first fraternity to take the stage, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, had the crowd singing along to their Jackson Five medley.

“We did a good job for a good cause,” said freshman Sam Baraso. “We definitely had fun up there.”

The routine’s complicated choreography, however, involved a lot of strenuous preparation.

“It must have taken at least a good hour-and-a-half,” said freshman Chris Egger, one of SAE’s back-up dancers.

After Alpha Phi took the stage to Lindsey Lohan’s “Rumors,” junior Eric Triebe of Sigma Chi performed a patriotic solo to “God Bless the U.S.A.”

“That song means a lot to me, and I don’t know if anyone else could have conveyed the emotion that I did,” said Triebe. “I have family and friends who are fighting in the war, and I wanted to do what little I could to show my support.”

With “the appeal of Disney songs to girls” working in their favor, Beta Theta Pi staged a Disney-themed tour de force that included make-up, costumes and a magic carpet.

“Most of us have been fans since we were little kids,” said senior Matt White. “We really wanted to make up for last year’s performance. It was fun, colorful, and everyone knew the words.”

Freshman Kristopher Kelley starred as a Disney princess in Beta’s production, a role that required him to wear a bikini top.

“I think I make a fairly attractive woman,” said Kelley. “I really feel like I have the figure for it.”

After Sigma Alpha Mu’s candid “Newsies” themed tribute to Student Life, Theta Xi’s shirtless rendition of “Sex Bomb,” and the Kappa seniors’ finale, it was time for the second round. Groups that advanced to this improvisation round found themselves challenged with songs by the likes of Hanson, the Spice Girls and M.C. Hammer.

“We made the most of the songs we got,” said junior Amelia Stiles of Pi Beta Phi, who performed a Ricky Martin favorite with her sisters. “Beta ended up getting ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ by Tiffany, which is my favorite song ever. Our songs were hard, but we made the best it.”

At the end of the night, Kappa Sig and Chi Omega were declared the winners of both bragging rights and a mixer with the Kappas. The real winner, however, was the Cochran Center, as the event raised $800 and 350 books.

“Tonight was amazing,” said Garbe. “This place was packed. Everyone had such great performances, and the majority of the frats and sororities were here for such a good cause.”

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