PULSE filled Shoenecker arena in the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex for its spring show “Got Swag?” Friday, April 29.

The evening featured 22 different ensembles choreographed by St. Thomas students, ranging from interpretive dances, isolating and popping, Michael Jackson and an evolution of dance.

“The crowd reaction is how we gauge [the show’s success],” junior Jazz Hampton, co-president of PULSE, said.

Junior co-president Levi Ismail said he loved that the same number of people came out to watch, if not more.

“You know those special moments when someone hits the move they want, or their group does exactly what they are supposed to do, and the crowd reacts, that’s what we all do it for,” Hampton said. “And obviously we love dancing too.”

Freshman Paige Johnson said, “Some of my best friends were in the show and had a lot of dances, so seeing them perform was such a good time. It was fun.”

Some students were especially impressed with certain dance numbers.

“I liked the dance to the rendition ‘Firework,’” freshman Matthew Folstad said. “It took a lot of talent, flowed well and had good transitions.”

“I’d like to comment on how excellent I thought battle of the sexes was. They brought back the historical theme of Michael Jackson: the glove, the dance, the moonwalk, so I thought it was humorous how they incorporated that in,” freshman Mark Frommelt said.

“I wish I was in PULSE so my booty could explode on the dance floor,” he added.

Hampton said he always asks students to join and not being able to dance is not an excuse because, “that’s what we teach you to do.”

Ismail said this year two freshmen choreographed dances who had never had any dance experience. He said they showed up, brought a group of freshmen with them and created a great experience.

Freshman Nick Pieper was one of these freshman choreographers.

“I dance because it gives me a feeling that is unexplainable,” Pieper said. “I just feel on top of the world.“

Jacqueline Destache can be reached at dest9449@stthomas.edu.