Songfest showcased 14 teams of sororities and fraternities performing various dances to raise money for this year’s nonprofit of choice, Relay for Life.
Hospitality business sophomore Jake Mullileil said he was excited to see the greek community come together and perform with his brothers in the MSU Chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity.
Each sorority was paired with two fraternities at the beginning of the semester. The teams, each totaling 40 members, had to create a theme and choreograph a dance to go with it. James Bond, Rocky and Captain America were some of the themes chosen for this year’s competition, advertising senior and Greek Week director Anna Richards said.
The teams performed for an audience of more than 4,000 people, including East Lansing Mayor Nathan Triplett and MSU’s Vice President of Student Affairs and Services Denise Maybank, Richards said.
Kinesiology junior Shane McKenna and journalism junior Anthony Ferraro practiced for months for their dance performance, which channeled the classic “Rocky” films. McKenna and Ferraro both are members of Pi Kappa Phi and were teamed up with Triangle Fraternity and Pi Beta Phi.
“We have been practicing three days a week for an hour at first, but as we were getting closer, we practiced every day,” McKenna said.
McKenna said the anticipation to perform built up all semester.
“I’m really excited to perform because we’ve been practicing for so long,” he said.
Participants in the dance each said 8-year-old Lacey Holsworth, who died late Tuesday night, was in mind while performing. Rumors were spread that she was supposed to be a guest judge of Songfest, according to Songfest participants.
“She was in the minds of all of us,” Mullileil said.
Participants held a collective moment of silence during the event to remember Lacey.
Economics senior and Interfraternity Council Chair Blair Montgomery opened the event with a few words about her. He proposed a fundraiser in her honor starting from Wednesday night to next year’s Greek Week.
“Lacey is a one in a million type of girl,” Montgomery said. “She needs to remain prominent in MSU’s community.”
As of Tuesday Richards said Greek Week has generated more $181,662 in proceeds for Relay for Life.
