Harvard’s largest student-run charity, dance, and fashion show, Eleganza, celebrated its 30th birthday on April 20. Eleganza breaks the mold of a typical fashion show by exhibiting fashion pieces and social expression through a diverse array of dances. Produced by Bristol Fales-Hill ’25, Norah Ostin ’25, and Melanie Volz ’25, this year’s show included fashion pieces from brands including Chaveli’s Playhouse, Boomerangs, and Vico Style. Ticket proceeds benefited The Front Porch Arts Collective, Artists for Humanity, and The Boston Foundation. Eleganza’s commitment to showcasing beauty and artistic movement from different cultural backgrounds while maintaining a modern appeal has made it one of the most highly anticipated student-run shows of the year.
“There are very few opportunities on campus where one’s artistic vision can extend to as many mediums that Eleganza has,” said Van Tran ’25, a dancer in the show. “Eleganza has dance. Eleganza has fashion. Eleganza has walks.”
This semester, Eleganza hosted an excited crowd at the Bright-Landry Hockey Center. The show was titled “Eleganza Eternal” to symbolize the courage of Eleganza’s founders and the never-ending determination of its current student organizers, models, and backstage team. Eleganza Eternal began with an action-packed opening number featuring the dancers that would perform in the show’s three exciting scenes: Utopia, East2West, and Akoma.
Utopia, choreographed by Chalisa Hoskins ’26 and Liliana Price ’25, engulfed audience members with its dramatic dance moves and space-inspired clothing, all embellished with neon-colored lights. Featuring a mix of intense hip-hop to smooth rhythms, Utopia began the show with an electric performance, leaving the audience feeling euphoric and energized.
Tran, who was a part of Utopia, was able to explore a different side of himself and his dancing abilities in the scene. “Utopia felt different parts of my body moving which was refreshing to feel… I was overjoyed to explore these different styles and grow myself as a dancer [and] I was ecstatic to put on different hats to bring the scene director’s vision come to fruition.”
Following Utopia was guest act Omo Naija X The Wahala Boys, Harvard’s premier African dance troupe, which captivated the audience with African themes infused with modern hip hop and pop music. This guest performance also stunned audiences with sensual moves and coordinated group sets that went well with the performance of the main Eleganza ensemble.
Scene 2, East2West, was choreographed by May Chung ’25 and Jamie Momoh ’25. Scene 2 successfully bridged the gap between music and dance choreography popular in K-pop and the vibrant energy of Afrobeats. This cultivated one incredible and electrifying performance that audience members could sing and dance along to. The fusion was not just an incredible performance but also a celebration of cultural exchange, crafted to honor and compliment the diversity of both genres.
“The title ‘East2West’ encapsulates the essence of the scene perfectly. It was a culturally diverse dance journey that transported both dancers and audience members across continents, from the east to the west,” explained Laurinne Eugenio ’26, a dancer in the piece. “I’ve always been captivated by African and K-pop dance styles, so having the opportunity to learn those moves was incredibly enjoyable. While the choreography initially posed a challenge, our choreographers, [Chung and Momoh], were exceptionally patient and supportive, guiding us through every step of the process until we fully mastered the dance routine.”
Following Scene 2 were guest performances by the Harvard Contemporary Collective and Black Men’s Forum (BMF) Step. No stranger to the Eleganza stage, each group wowed audiences with impressive tricks, innovative choreography, and long-lasting traditions, such as BMF’s dance to the classic hit “Pony,” which led to an eruption of cheers from the audience.
The final scene, Akoma, choreographed by Red Hamblin ’27, mesmerized the audience with its breathtaking display of amazing dancers and fashion which spotlighted the profound impact of the African diaspora and the global influence it has had on the world around us. In her pre-show Scene Director feature on the Eleganza Instagram, Hamblin shared that her scene was about “honoring the story of Black people and how far we’ve come.” The performance transcended mere celebration, with a diverse array of choreography featuring triumphant movement and empowerment. “Akoma,” a term rooted in Ghanaian heritage symbolizing love, goodwill, and endurance, felt present throughout the scene. “It was a labor of love and super cool to watch it all come together,” said Nahla Owens ’25, a dancer in Hamblin’s scene.
Moreover, Akoma served as a commemoration of Eleganza’s 30-year journey since its beginning in 1994. Born out of the visionary spirit of a group of students in BlackC.A.S.T. (Community and Student Theater), Harvard’s first Black student production group, Eleganza emerged from a recognition of the lack of performance spaces that had a blend of visual and performing arts all in one. Thus, this final performance not only paid homage to the past but also made a bold step forward in the continued celebration of diversity, creativity, and the enduring spirit of artistic expression.
For Eleganza lead Izzy Guillaume ’24, meaning she danced in all three acts of the show, the magic of Eleganza comes from the opportunity it gives to “learn from all five of the scene directors who brought such different visions, cultures, and dance styles to the stage… Working alongside such talented, diverse dancers was an [unforgettable and] incredible learning experience.” Through their efforts, the Eleganza crew made an unforgettable night for the students who attended.
“Seeing the whole production materialize from the first few rehearsals to the week of the show has also demonstrated just how talented the executive team is. They are running such a massive operation, and I have so much respect for all the work they put into it,” explained Owens. “As a performer, it’s also such a rare opportunity to have an audience of that size—there truly is no stage like the Ganza stage.”
Adedoyin Adebayo ’26 (aadebayo@college.harvard.edu) is impressed by campus art productions.
Chidimma Adinna ’25 (cadinna@college.harvard.edu) will definitely be auditioning for next year’s show!