CHICKEN POC GETS SERIOUS
Stacey Park, a senior English major and seasoned Mock Rock performer, is participating a second time in this annual event, calling it a fun must-do before graduation. But while spending time dancing with friends and aiming to make people laugh are priorities for Park, the two-week mark means it’s time to buckle down — by practicing a few hours every night.
“When it gets to be crunch time, it gets a little serious and chaotic, but at the end of the day it’s fun,” Park said. “This is the time where we’re putting everything together and having everybody just run through it so they know what’s going on.”
Park is not only dancing with Chicken Poc — who took third place last year — again this year, but is also helping put together some of the choreography. The name originated as a joke to counter group names like Xopoc and BROPOC, Park said.
“We were like, ‘Oh, Chicken Poc, that’s hilarious,’” Park said.
Sophomore environmental science major Brendon Anthony, who lip-synched and danced with the winners of last year’s Mock Rock, H@wt P0cK3Zz, joined Chicken Poc along with a group of friends after having such a great experience in last year’s Mock Rock.
Anthony, whose dance experience also includes being on Xopoc his freshman year, is helping choreograph for Chicken Poc’s routine.
“I also helped brainstorm the theme and I have one specific scene,” Anthony said. “I choreographed for that and chose the music.”
H@wt P0cK3Zz NOW p0cK3t L!k3 !Tz H@wT
H@wt P0cK3Zz decided to restructure their group not only stylistically but in title as well. Micah Mathis, a sophomore communications major and member of Xopoc, has returned to dance with p0cK3t L!k3 !Tz H@wT, a different spin-off from last year’s winning group.
“We have a lot of the same people as last year, but I wouldn’t say it’s the same group by any means,” Mathis commented.
This year, Mathis said, p0cK3t L!k3 !Tz H@wT has included a lot more stunts in their act, something the audience can and should look forward to.
“I feel like last year we raised the bar a little bit for what Mock Rock looks like and this year we’re hoping to do even better. We have some fun stuff in store, and I hope everyone enjoys it,” he said.
Mathis added that while he is not personally nervous for Friday’s performance, he is nervous for the group.
“But I think it’s going to be fun,” he said.
SOS BONDS OVER MOCK ROCK ROUTINE
SOS jumped on the Mock Rock wagon and began utilizing this spring event as a way of knitting their new staff and student leaders together. SOS crew leader and senior communication disorders major Heidi McKnight commented on the benefits of Mock Rock in regards to staff unity.
“Our main reason for doing it is to bond, because our ministry’s value is in our bonding. We serve best through our relationships with each other,” McKnight said. “Mock Rock’s our alleyway to bonding.”
Freshman business major Chelsea Vukovich is new to Mock Rock, but is familiar with the rumors of the time-consuming, late-night practices and craziness in the weeks leading up to the final performance.
“I haven’t been too overwhelmed yet. I’m a choreographer for one of the scenes with all girls and it’s been so fun; everyone has been working so hard and just so dedicated,” Vukovich said.
Like McKnight, Vukovich recognized the bonding that comes with spending three hours a night, every night with her SOS teammates — despite it being tiring at times.
“Really the best part is getting to know everyone better,” she said.
McKnight is confident in her SOS group, as she stated without hesitation that their expectation for Friday is, “To win, obviously.”
