We are less than a month away from welcoming a brand-new group of Mount A students to our lovely campus! With just the thought of that, I am full of excitement and am more than ready to gear up for another spirited orientation week. Speaking of orientation spirit, the BBQ dance-off is without a doubt my favourite orientation activity every single year. For those of you who don’t know, the BBQ dance-off is an annual orientation event that happens every year at Swan Pond. This event includes barbecued food and entails every residence choreographing a dance to perform in front of all the other residences. Here are five reasons why it is so beloved in my eyes: 

It is important you try to attend as many dance practices as you can. It will pay off when it is time for the big spectacle. Most likely one or multiple of your residence leaders worked hard to create the dance you are doing and mash-up of songs you are performing it to. These practices are a great way to meet the people you are living with and to input your own thoughts and creative takes on the dance itself. It is always really cool to see everybody on the same page and in sync for the final dance at the dance-off! 

Starting off an orientation event with free hot dogs and hamburgers fresh off the barbecue is always a plus. After lots of orientation activities and plenty of dance practices leading up to this event a great outdoor meal is definitely an advantage. And getting to eat with your new friends in residence looking out on Swan Pond makes it even better! 

It is such a beautiful sight to see a sea of students all sitting with their residence and being able to tell where the divides are based on the colours they’re sporting. Getting all decked out in residence gear and painting my face was always one of my favourite things to do when I was in residence and this event is the perfect opportunity to do so. I would highly recommend doing some research on your residence colours and logo before coming to school so you can make sure you are all set for events like these. 

It might not be for some people, but I love being able to be loud and it being completely normal. This is the best chance to be loud to the point of having half of a voice the next day. Every residence will be cheering at the top of their lungs to the BBQ, during the dance-off, and even leaving the event. Nothing shows residence unity more than cheering together as a group trying to ensure you are louder than any other residence. 

It really doesn’t matter if you have never danced before. I can guarantee you that 99% of the people around you at the event think they can’t dance either. If you are putting in your best effort and enjoying every second of it that is what really matters. Most people will look ridiculous and that is what makes this event so enjoyable. While there is the competition of cheering louder than the residence next to you the beauty of this event is that every residence is cheering for one another as they perform their dance in front of the crowd. 

Written by Riley Nixon, a member of the Spirit committee for this year's Orientation week.