The Cultural Union for Black Expression (CUBe) hosted a 90s-2000s Juke Jam dance at the Pause Mane Stage Friday, March 1 from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. The event served as the culmination of the February Black History Month programming.
The dance was well attended, with a constant stream of people entering the dance all night and a packed dance floor. Non St. Olaf students were also welcome to attend with a valid ID.
Posters promised 90s music and attire, and the St. Olaf community put their hearts into the theme, donning creative 90s and 2000s outfits and hairstyles.
“Yasss! Oh my gosh it was so lit, I was so happy to see everybody in their gear.” Eugene Sandel `22 said. “It was so much fun because everybody was dressed up. There weren’t that many people there who looked like they weren’t invested in it, so that made it so much better.”
The Throwback Pause Dance hosted by the Pause the week before featured less investment in retro attire, but more focus on playing throwback hits during the dance. At the Juke Jam, students expressed being irritated by modern music picks. While most of the songs played were from the 90s or 2000s, music choices near the beginning and end of the dance included more recent hits.
“[The dance] brings a new perspective to what black history is, because a lot of people think black history is slavery, and yes that’s a part of it, but thinking of the 90s as black history is a really fresh and different way to think of it, and that was a cool way to finish off the month” – Eugene Sandel ’22
Despite the music choices, students appreciated the 90s theme.
“This one was just something that we all could kind of relate to, in a different way, not because we experienced it but because it was close enough to our childhood that there were still remnants of the 90s in our childhood,” Sandel said.
The event also featured a performance by M.I.X., St. Olaf’s Hip Hop Club. About halfway through the dance, the group cleared a space in the middle of the dance floor and performed a medley of songs.
Students also enjoyed a free photo booth with a 90s inspired graffiti backdrop and props.
CUBe’s Juke Jam dance closed out a full month of Black History Month events.
“I think it’s an interesting way to look at black history, and view the 90s as black history,” Sandel said. “It brings a new perspective to what black history is, because a lot of people think black history is slavery, and yes that’s a part of it, but thinking of the 90s as black history is a really fresh and different way to think of it, and that was a cool way to finish off the month.”
