Many Izzone members got quite an experience during a timeout of MSU men’s basketball game against Indiana University.
Instead of watching from the bleachers, several male Izzone members were asked to volunteer and be part of the MSU Dance Team’s timeout performance.
After two days of rehearsal, the team carried out a tradition of bringing Izzone members onto the floor of Breslin Center to put on a fun, lighthearted timeout show. This year, the show was on Valentine’s Day and had a Valentine’s Day theme.
“When this opportunity came up I jumped on it,” human biology junior and Izzone member Matthew Oatten said. “It was just something that I wanted to be a part of. It sounded like a lot of fun to get back into it.”
The application process started with an email, which was sent to all Izzone members asking about their interest in performing.
Though a simple “yes” was all that was required, Oatten went above and beyond, typing a lengthy email detailing his dance background and attaching a video of his dancing.
“I tried everything I could think of so I could be chosen and be a part of it, so luckily it worked out for me,” Oatten said.
Oatten said the performance lived up to expectations.
“I wasn’t really nervous, I was more excited to, you know, actually get out there and perform it,” Oatten said. “It was just a lot of fun, and the build up, and I remember after I was shaking from the adrenaline it was so much fun. It’s kind of one of those things that you don’t want it to end. You wish you could go back out and do it again.”
The dance was choreographed by the dance team’s seniors.
“This year the boys were right on it,” neuroscience senior Effie Oates, one of three dance team captains, said.
Oatten said he also made a new friendship through the experience with his partner from the performance, communication senior Cristi Fisher.
Fisher said she was happy the Izzone member performance was one of her last events of her senior year because it was always something she looked forward to every season.
“The Izzone members are always fun and super outgoing so they really enjoy dancing and being a part of it, and it’s one of the most memorable dances that we do every year because it’s something different that we get to do and the crowd really enjoys,” Fisher said.
