Students are still impressed after a performance by The African Drum and Dance Troupe today at lunch in the English Resource Center.

With colorful costumes, heart-pumping rhythms and intense dance moves, the ensemble wowed a large crowd, with chairs spilling out into the library and throngs of students standing behind to watch.  The show was planed to take place in the Quad, but was move to the ERC due to bad weather.

The group, comprised of two musicians and two dancers, performed routines, according to one performer, meant to showcase the dancers’ inner strength.  After the ensemble performed its choreographed songs and dances, students, including junior Audrey DeBruine, were invited to join the dancers to get a chance to show off their own skills.

“It was pretty embarrassing at first looking out at a bunch of kids staring at us… but it ended up being so much fun,” DeBruine said.  “The dancers had so much good energy and it was a blast being able to let loose like that because I don’t usually get the chance to just start dancing during lunch.”

After the show, students continued to talk about the engaging performance.

“Yeah, it was pretty awesome,” junior Taha Rafeeqi said. “I was definitely impressed.”

Senior Inez Paraiso and sophomore Scott Andrews echoed Rafeeqi’s sentiments.

“It was a fun experience and it was really different than other things that Paly has,” Paraiso said.

“I’ve never seen anything like that before,” Andrews added. “I wish I was that athletic.”