The University of Connecticut hosted its 39th annual Lip Sync Battle as part of Homecoming Week on Thursday, Oct. 2. Several teams consisting of active members of the UConn community, ranging from the cultural centers to paired fraternities and sororities, gave it their all on stage at the Jorgenson Center for the Performing Arts.
“[The Lip Sync Battle] is a good addition to Homecoming Weekend because it showcases a variety of communities and organizations at UConn in a fun and upbeat way,” said Sofia Baron, a third-semester digital media and design major.
The Homecoming Lip Sync Battle was sponsored by the Student Union Board of Governors (SUBOG) and UConn Homecoming.
“Overall, I really enjoyed the performance,” said Sabrina Canihuante, a third-semester psychology major. “I thought it was very creative and everyone on stage seemed to be having a lot of fun. I also liked how it was completely run by students.”
Teams were judged throughout the night by a panel, based on four main categories. The first category was originality, theme, creativity and costuming or use of props. The second category was routine, with the other two being professionalism and lip syncing.
The show opened with an energetic performance by the UConn Dance Team to hype up the crowd for the remainder of the night, dancing to Nicki Manj’s hit, “Moment 4 Life.”
The first three competing teams were all involved with Greek Life. Performances included songs, such as “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Dancing Queen” and “We’re All in This Together” from “High School Musical.”
The UConn All Stars, UConn’s only competitive step and dance team, also performed. Their set dove into the history of UConn, dancing and lip syncing through the eras of its past as an agricultural school, jumping to the disco age of the 1970s and even performing a rendition of 2010s hits, such as “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae).” Their set was powerful and terrifically in sync.
A team representing AE Phi, AXO and ASig performed later in the night and earned third place. Their set was enthusiastic and showed clear signs of practice and effort put into their complex dance routines.
The Puerto Rican and Latin American Cultural Center (PRLACC) won second place and received lengthy applause from the audience. Their set consisted of Latin American dancing (both inspired by the past and modern day), colorful outfits and the representation of various countries’ flags.
“My favorite group was PRLACC because their routine was very organized and unique,” said Canihuante. “It also referenced traditional Hispanic dances. I enjoyed the historical references as well as the modern parts, like when one group member pretended to be Bad Bunny.”
The winner of the competition was the Rainbow Center. Their team may have been small, but they were rather mighty. Dancing to LGBTQ classics, such as “I’m Coming Out” by Diana Ross, “Vogue” by Madonna and a series of Lady Gaga songs, including “Born This Way,” their team was eccentric and sassy. Splits, jumps, voguing and traditional drag-style lip syncing were all showcased in their performance.
“My favorite was probably the Rainbow Center,” said Baron. “Although there were just five of them on stage, they were all super enthusiastic and a lot of fun.”
Homecoming Week’s lip sync battle showcased student talent and school spirit on the main stage of campus. It was a performance that brought together a diverse range of groups to represent the student body at UConn.
“I haven’t been to any other homecoming events, so this definitely set the bar high,” said Baron.