For students interested in different areas of dance culture, a group here at NC State may provide the perfect outlet.

The Production is a hip-hop-inspired dance group that will hold auditions Tuesday on the second floor of the Recreation Center.

Ricky Phuong, a senior in design studies, founded the group in 2012 after he and his friends put together a ninja-inspired set for Asia Night, the university’s Asian Student Association show.

Phuong said he and his friends were interested in introducing a different side of hip-hop dance to NC State that emphasized theatrics and storytelling. The set was supposed to be a one-time thing, Phuong said, but because the crowd enjoyed the group’s dance, the performance led to the formation of The Production. 

The Production holds three practices per week, and members attend based on their schedule and how much time they can invest. The amount of time that each member puts into the group is the amount of experience they get out of it, according to Phuong.

The Production holds two to three performances each year. It limits its performances due to the time it takes to build the intricate sets that they only use once. According to Phuong, The Production wants the audience to experience something different at each performance. 

“Auditions are less about the quantity [of applicants] but more of giving everyone the chance to share the same passion for dance with us,” Phuong said. “We have had great turnouts so far and look forward to growing and spreading the love!”

The Production has grown over the past two years in numbers and recognition. It won NC State’s best dance crew and competed in the national hip hop competition, Prelude Carolinas. 

Phuong said his time managing The Production has taught him valuable lessons in leadership, organization and his love for working with people.

Katie Martin, a freshman in engineering, recently joined The Production. Martin, who started dancing at age 4, said the community that dance groups create is even more valuable than the dancing itself.

“If you are having fun with it and putting your heart into the performance, then it will be so much better,” Martin said. “Clearly getting the moves down is important, but just going through the motions is not what makes a good dancer. If you get every move right with no emotion, it’s not as powerful as getting the moves most of the time and putting life and feeling into the performance.”

Manaka Green, a sophomore with computer science intent, said she joined The Production due to the way the group incorporates hip-hop dance styles. Green said she couldn’t sit still as a child, which led to her taking up dancing.

Green said dancing has helped increase her confidence and speak with more enthusiasm. She advises applicants to feel the moves and exaggerate them in the beginning of the routine so their muscles will be more likely to remember them when the speeds increase.  

Jonathan Lovin, a junior in industrial engineering, has been a member of The Production for almost a year. According to Lovin, his interest in dancing stemmed from his passion for music, and he saw dancing as a way to express almost anything through music. 

 “I met one of the earlier members of The Production by chance,” Lovin said. “He was really enthusiastic about being a part of the group and suggested that I check out the auditions.” 

The Production holds three practices per week, which includes one optional practice to help members improve their skills or learn fundamental skills for various types of dancing. According to Lovin, The Production wants to attract dancers who share the same love of dance as the founding members. 

Lovin advises applicants to dance without reservation during their auditions. He said The Production is focused on helping members reach their potential, so it’s OK if applicants mess up in the audition as long as they keep trying.

 Lovin said The Production has helped him become more sociable as he became part of a supportive community of friends who create an environment where people can come out of their shells. Lovin also said dancing is a great stress relief, especially during exam time or long study sessions. 

“I joined The Production with no prior dance experience,” Lovin said. “I was nervous and worried about not being good enough, but that soon went away. The Production is very capable of making great dancers out of people who have never danced before, because it has great teachers and a supportive group of members.”

For Lovin, dancing has helped his ability to think creatively. He said that when learning a set of moves, it is easy to see that the choreography could go in any direction, which means each move keeps new and experienced dancers interested.

The Production, according to Lovin, is a unique organization, even in comparison to other hip-hop groups. 

When the group performs a piece, it puts reason, action and emotion behind it to share a story with the audience.