From April 3-9, those affiliated with Greek life at Elon participated in Greek Week, a week of competition among sororities and fraternities.
The Greek organizations participated in a variety of events, and the end of the week comes with the Greek Week dance competition — the culmination of Greek Week.
At this final event, sororities and fraternities compete against one another by performing five-minute long dances. A panel of judges selects the winners — three sororities and three fraternities — and sororities notoriously take the event more seriously than fraternities.
After bid day, sorority members volunteered to get involved in the dance. Then, the hard work began.
Most sororities met about three times each week to practice their dances, with each rehearsal lasting two or three hours. These practices became more frequent as Greek Week dance approached.
“We started practicing every night the week leading up to it.,” said Katie Condon, a freshman in Alpha Chi Omega. “It was difficult and stressful at times, especially because I want to do well.”
But the girls understand the hard work is necessary if they want to win.
“There is so much effort involved,” said Emily De Vito, a senior in Delta Delta Delta. “People have been planning this since the beginning of November.”
And for those who aren’t dancers, this competitiveness means they have to put in additional hours in order to keep up.
“I had to practice outside of rehearsals,” said Serena Mirchondani, a freshman in Zeta Tau Alpha. “I spent at least an extra hour each week going over what we have done. I really wanted to do well for my sisters .”
Much more is involved in the preparation for Greek Week dance than practicing the routine. Organizations are responsible for compiling music, choreography and managing attendance at rehearsals.
“You have to be extremely organized and on top of things,” said junior and Delta Delta Delta’s Greek Week chair, Elise Grigg. “Things change every second. Problems arise constantly.”
Grigg began planning in November and hasn’t stopped since. She has spent countless hours picking out music, making sure the choreography flows, ensuring people attend practices and working out the logistics of the dance.
On top of that, each sorority comes up with a theme, which they keep secret until Greek Week dance, and coordinates costumes and props to go with it. Past themes have included: Alpha Xi Delta’s “Pirates of Xi Caribbean” and Sigma Sigma Sigma’s “Once Upon a Sigma” (winners of the 2013 and 2012 Greek Week dance competitions, respectively).
“The reason you keep them a secret is because you want the element of surprise with a lot of themes, so they have the biggest impact,” Condon said. “If I told I would potentially get in trouble, but that would be bad team spirit.”
Even members of the sororities that do not participate in the dance are not allowed to know the theme of the dance.
As the hours pass and the event approaches, Greek Week dancers say one thing is on their minds: winning.
“Of course I want to win,” Condon said. “I’m excited to perform because we’ve practiced for so many months. Also, I’m excited to see everyone else’s dances as well because the themes are top secret.”
2012 winner Sigma Sigma Sigma hopes to come back from not having placed last year and regain a spot in the top three.
“We placed first the year before and that was such an amazing opportunity,” said LeeAnna Matarazzo, a junior in Sigma Sigma Sigma. “When it happens, it’s the best. But if not, it’s still the most amazing time to perform your heart out after tirelessly practicing,”
For last year’s runner-ups, Delta Delta Delta, the pressure is on as well.
“I know all of the hard work my girls have put into this, and they deserve [the win],” Grigg said. “Last year was the first year Tri Delta placed, so this year the pressure is even greater. If not win, at least place.”
The Greek Week dance takes place April 9 at 8 p.m. in the Alumni Gym. Tickets are on sale now for $5 in the Greek life office.