From choreographing, rehearsing and blocking, the members of two of Northwestern’s student-run dance groups have been putting in the hours to prepare for this weekend’s four shows.
Their shows this weekend will combine four different styles of dance and will feature members of Tonik Tap, Northwestern’s only student-run tap focused dance group and Graffiti Dancers, another student-run dance group that specializes in contemporary and jazz.
I spoke to Graffiti Dancers’ Co-Artistic Director and senior Lindsey Wade before one of the group’s rehearsals on Tuesday.
LINDSEY WADE: It’s just a really fun way to collaborate with another dance group on campus and perform contemporary, jazz, tap, hip hop.
The stylistic mash-up is what makes this show special.
MARY KATE TANSELLE: A really unique thing about Graffoniks is that we are two really different dance styles. There’s a lot of dance shows on campus that go cross group and they’re all very very cool and I think something unique about Graffoniks is that we’re two completely different styles so it gives a lot of variety to the audience.
That was Mary Kate Tanselle, the co-artistic director and President of Tonik Tap. She went on to tell me that the collaborative show has been happening for more than 10 years
TANSELLE: Graffoniks is a time honored tradition between Tonik [Tap] and Graffiti Dancers.
The January show marks the first show with a new group of dancers.
TANSELLE: It’s always so special when we get our new members and there is a mix of freshmen and sophomores this year which is pretty typical. I think it always brings new inspiration to existing members. Everyone taps differently or comes from a different background so every new member is a tweak to the group, but in a really good way.
The groups have had all of Fall Quarter to gel – with each other and with the other group.
Graffiti senior and treasurer Leah Jang choreographed a combined number for this weekend’s shows. Members of both Tonik and Graffiti will be in it.
LEAH JANG: One dance I’m choreographing is a hip hop routine, and this is a completely different style than what Graffiti and Tonik are known for.
She has found the whole process enriching.
JANG: It’s been great to get to know not just people on Graffiti but people on Tonik and getting to share the stage with them has been truly rewarding. So, yeah I’m really excited that this is our last time but super sad as well to get to perform in front of our friends and family.
For seniors like Jang and Wade, shows like these tend to be bittersweet. This show also marks a new beginning for the groups’ 10 newcomers.
WADE: Something special is that this is people’s first Graffoniks ever and they have so many more to come so just being able to be a part of their first show with Graffiti or with Tonik is really special.
Freshman Clio Siegel joined Tonik Tap in September. She is looking forward to this weekend’s shows and the opportunity to continue bonding with the rest of the group while doing something she has loved for a long time.
CLIO SIEGEL: Tap was my first style of dance that I ever started and definitely has a special place in my heart because of that. And I saw a rehearsal of Tonik Tap during my P[eer] A[dvising] group’s tour of campus one day and they just looked like they were having so much fun and the energy was so infectious and I thought, ‘I have to audition for this group.’
Graffoniks 2026: Rewind will be happening tonight, at seven p-m and 9 p.m. as well as tomorrow night at the same times. All of the shows will be in the Wirtz Ballroom.
For WNUR News, I’m Rachel Spears.