Talented student teams dance for a good cause in annual Swerve competition

Swerve audiences have come to expect exciting and upbeat routines with plenty of fun music.

Dance enthusiasts from student organizations representing almost every service club and social tribe at Mississippi College have spent weeks preparing for Swerve, an annual dance competition for charity, scheduled for 9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27, in Swor Auditorium in Nelson Hall.

The competition lets MC students showcase their dancing skills while vying for a cash prize to benefit their designated philanthropy.

Dancers like Chloe Barr are set to perform choreographed, five-minute routines packed with energy and humor in an electric atmosphere fed by an enthusiastic crowd of MC students, faculty and staff, and family members.

“Audiences have come to expect exciting and upbeat routines with lots of fun music,” said Barr, a sophomore biology/pre-medicine major from Columbus and a co-chair of the Laguna dance team. “My favorite part of Swerve is getting to go on stage and perform. There is no feeling quite like being under the bright stage lights and dancing for an auditorium packed with friends and family.

“I am looking forward to seeing all the other teams’ routines because everyone is always so creative and brings something new and fun to the table each year.”

Bethany Bradshaw and her New Kids teammates don’t plan to relinquish their grip on the Swerve crown that easily. Winners of the contest for three years in a row, the independent team donated last year’s proceeds to Dance Marathon, which benefits Children’s of Mississippi, the state’s only children’s hospital.

“Swerve is a fun event for the MC community to enjoy while also benefiting a meaningful cause each year,” said Bradshaw, a senior exercise science major from Dothan, Alabama, and co-chair of her team.

Swerve contains similar elements to Follies, MC’s annual Homecoming show. On-stage hosts entertain the audience while sets are broken down between each dance. Competing acts may range from a swing dance team to hip-hop, classical and modern-dance performances. Routines are set to popular music, from Disney favorites to nostalgic throwbacks or more contemporary releases.

Swerve gives MC students like Bradshaw who enjoyed dancing in high school another opportunity to perform on stage.

“All of my competitive and performative dance ended with (high school) graduation,” she said. “Swerve grants me another chance to do the sport that I love. There aren’t many opportunities after Swerve that will give me the reason to dance in the same aspect, so I am grateful for the event.

“It’s so much fun to hear the hype from the audience at Swerve. It’s exciting and warming to hear all your friends and peers cheer for you from the audience.”

When Barr joined the Laguna social tribe as a freshman, dancing in Swerve was on her “must-do” list.

“Dance is something that I love and am deeply passionate about,” she said. “Competing for Laguna last year, we won third place and I received an outstanding performer award.

“I am so excited for everyone to see our routine (this year).”

Productions rely on costumes, music and dancing – there is no dialogue – but Bradshaw said the performers feel a connection to the audience.

“There’s always so much enthusiasm and support for every team,” she said. “It’s so unifying that everyone walks into the auditorium with anticipation to see what and how every team performs.

“My friends always mention how excited they are to see the creativity each team brings to the stage.”

Barr’s goal for the competition is for every member of her team to have fun and perform to the best of her ability.

“It has been a joy to work with our team this year,” she said. “I am so proud of them and I know that they will put on a great show.”

Bradshaw said members of the New Kids team will be trying their hardest to hold onto the Swerve crown, but the competition is all about having fun.

“Winning is definitely something we are hoping to accomplish, but even more, we want everyone to enjoy the process and look back on Swerve 2025 fondly,” she said.

“We will be truly excited for any team to take the victory and give their earnings to their philanthropy.”

For more information about Swerve, visit www.mc.edu/students/policies/events-activities/swerve.