Iris Lu

Helix Dance Crew (HDC)

What is Helix Dance Crew

Helix Dance Crew (HDC) is a collegiate dance team that hopes to foster the growth of our own team in addition to the development of all Pittsburgh community members through the art of dance. Aside from dance, we are first and foremost, a dance family. It is a shared passion and enthusiasm for dance that binds the crew together. Members are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones and share their own experiences with the group. We aim to be a safe space for aspiring dancers, choreographers, and student leaders.

Check out our YouTube below!

Leadership Positions

Executive Director

During my senior year, I served as the Executive Director for Helix Dance Crew. As the Executive Director, I led the team through a series of transitions: navigating virtual conditions during COVID-19, becoming an independent organization recognized by CMU, and rebranding our team to Helix Dance Crew.

My goals:

  • Help foster a close-knit community that could serve as a second home to our members
  • Encourage the team to become more than just a group of friends that danced together, but rather a competitive dance team that strove to constantly learn and develop
  • Keep the team growing and maintain traditions despite the circumstances with COVID-19

Accomplishments:

  • With early planning and careful discussion among the team and with faculty, we were able to effectively plan auditions and practice schedules
  • Design a format to accommodate remote students and limit risk for in-person students
  • Put together successful choreography videos for the first time showcasing the semester set
  • Invest in more social media presence and gain filming and video production experience for future projects
  • Coordinate and host Synergy Showcase 2021, a virtual dance which featured dance teams from 17 different collegiate dance teams across North America.
    • We were unfortunately too busy to put together a second showcase, but check out the instagram here: @synergyshowcase

What I gained:

  • Experience in handling internal communications with board and team members, as well as external communications with CMU faculty and other student organizations
    • Organization methods and effective communication to all parties
  • Perspective on management and spreading out the workload amongst board members while keeping in mind school work and mental health
  • Distinguishing myself as a leader while maintaining my presence as a close friend and advisor for team members
    • Lead by action, not words
  • Discovered my personal limits and effective methods to prevent burnout and care for my own mental healths

To this day I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve as Executive Director during such uncertain times and to gain experience in aspects I would have otherwise never been exposed to. I am also very proud of the work that I have done for the team and how it has continued to grow after my term.

Choreographer

Diving into choreographing brought along a series of different challenges and rewards than what I'd experienced before. Choreographing pushed my creativity to new limits, while increasing my own confidence. Making my own dances and teaching others was a new experience that challenged my leadership and organization in various ways. Ultimately, it was extremely fruitful to watch something that I had envisioned as only a vague concept come to life through the hard work and passion of my team.

Watch these videos to get a peak at my choreography!