Airband Takes the Stage

On April 11, 12 groups starred in one of Taylor’s most anticipated traditions: Airband. This choreographed lip-sync battle amazed audiences for the 42^nd year in a row. Groups were composed of brother and sister wings who had spent hundreds of hours leading up to the show in perfecting their performances. Their efforts shined on the stage as they delivered another Airband.

The History Behind the Tradition

Airband is one of Taylor’s longest standing traditions. Beginning in 1984, it started simple. The first show was comprised of small groups of students lip-syncing to just one song. The focus was on the band and how well they performed.

From there, Airband became much bigger and more elaborate every year. Performances gradually centered around a specific theme. The band became less important as the choreography took center stage. Eventually Airband became what we know it as today: a six-minute-long highly choreographed dance battle with performers lip-syncing to a mashup of curated songs fitting a theme.

In the past couple of years, groups’ themes have migrated from general to specific. This year’s themes included beloved films and shows such as Cars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Groups strive to clearly portray the plot of the movie through their dancing and singing as well as through set and costume design.

A Student-Led Experience

Taylor’s Inter-Class Council (ICC) organizes Airband every year. ICC is a group of student-elected class officers, freshmen through seniors. They are dedicated to promoting class and campus unity through planning events such as Airband that bring together the whole campus.

“There’s so much joy evident in it, and we get to celebrate that,” said Gabriella Yatooma, ICC junior class president. “College has its difficulties. But you know what? Every year, we gather to celebrate one another and dance and sing and have a great time.”

ICC also decides on an overall theme for Airband each year. This year’s theme was “Airband Airlines,” chosen unanimously by all ICC members, who then transformed Boren into an airline departure gate. The inside of Rediger Chapel/Auditorium was treated like the inside of an airplane, and the show’s enthusiastic emcees played right into the theme, acting as the flight attendants.

Crowds, Competition, and Community

This year was the largest Airband to date, with 706 students participating. There are two identical shows every year, an early show at 5:30 pm and a late show at 9:00 pm. This year, the winner of the early show was Avatar: The Last Airbender. They captivated the audience with their clean choreography and colorful costumes.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas won the late show, their enthusiastic facial expressions and lip-syncing and overall positive energy securing high marks with the judges.

“I think it’s one of the greatest opportunities to learn about other people,” explained Andrew Beaverson, ICC senior class treasurer. Beaverson was also one of the Airband captains this year. “When you’re dancing next to someone for a whole semester, you start to get to know them. Everybody becomes closer friends.”