Flava Unit puts groove into routines, prepares to host competition at URI [P]

04/10/07 - Besides the academic routine at the University of Rhode Island, another, more physical rhythm has persisted for the last 14 years. This year, the rhythm of Juelz Santana's "Second Coming" is poignantly practiced by the members of Flava Unit, along with the sounds of Chingy and Janet Jackson.This is Flava Unit's 14th year at URI; the team currently has 10 members, including seven freshmen.

"A lot of people start out in Flava Unit when they come to school, but then drop out because of different priorities," Eddy Vazquez, a freshman at the Community College of Rhode Island, said.

The three remaining members of the team consist of two sophomores and one senior.

There are a lot of different backgrounds and a lot of diversity, freshman Katherine Swiczewicz, who began dancing at two-years-old, said.

"Everyone has their own style and flavor," Vazquez, the only student in Flava Unit not attending URI, said.

Starting at 6 p.m., Monday through Wednesday, Flava Unit practices its steps and routine for two hours.

"The typical routine is always a mix of artists, seven-and-a-half minutes long" Shawna Kelly, vice president of Flava Unit, said.

The goal of each routine is to get everyone involved and contributing to the choreography. Although president Ashlee Rydecki and Kelly have final say in choreography, they take input from everyone.

"That's the goal, to have everyone involved," Kelly said.

The team also implements themes into its routines. Last semester was a jail theme, which resulted in the team wearing orange jump suits for its performances.

"We try to incorporate the theme at the beginning and bring it back at the end," Kelly said.

For the fall 2006 semester, the team used a television theme. Members got on stage in a giant cardboard television.

"We like to do something different than most groups do," Kelly said.

Currently the team is preparing for its big show of the year, Drop It Like It's Hot.

The fourth annual Drop It Like It's Hot is a dance competition pitting about 10 dance teams from all over Rhode Island against each other.

Flava Unit members will judge Drop It Like It's Hot, and will not actually compete in the competition. After Drop It Like It's Hot, Flava Unit will host a party at the Memorial Union Ballroom at 10 p.m.

The winner will not only receive a trophy, but the title of No. 1. Last year's winner was Infinyt, a group from East Providence, R.I.

The title is more important to some people than the trophy itself, Vazquez said. And although Flava Unit never competes for its own trophy, members will still perform two sets.

"The first set is usually stuff that we have performed," Rydecki said. "We're more excited for the second set because it is all new stuff."

Last December, Flava Unit won a competition at Johnson and Wales. Even with its victory, Flava Unit has not received the recognition members feel they deserve.

"The school just lacks support for us," freshman Dayna Passareti said.

Flava Unit has tried to gain publicity by performing at URI men's basketball games, but that dance spot is currently held by the Ramettes.

"For the half time show they seem to like the Ramettes," Swiczewicz said.

This Wednesday Flava Unit will be performing at Latino American Student Association's Unity Banquet in the Memorial Ballroom at 6:30 p.m.