BASYK Cypher brings dance and community to life
The Grand Hall pulsed with energy and music on April 12 and 13 as Rice’s BASYK dance club hosted its annual Cypher showcase, highlighting a wide array of dance styles ranging from K-pop and hip-hop to ballroom performances.
Han Nguyen-Hoang, BASYK's president, said the club aims to be accessible to dancers of all skill levels, making it a welcoming space for newcomers and experienced performers alike.
"We encourage everyone to try dancing," said Nguyen-Hoang, a Lovett College senior. "BASYK is a great place to start because it's low commitment, and everyone is always willing to help each other out and just have a good time."
Nguyen-Hoang said the event is named after the dance term "cypher," referring to a gathering where "all different kinds of people come together to play music, dance and have fun." Under her leadership, Cypher has expanded significantly.
Initially exclusive to Rice groups, the event now hosts dance crews from universities like Texas A&M University, professional studios and independent teams from across the region.
"Our goal for Cypher is to showcase the diversity of dance," Nguyen-Hoang said. "We intentionally include a variety of styles to engage not just Rice but the greater Houston community."
Paulina Warren, head dance captain of Texas A&M’s Royal Aces, said the group was thrilled to return for its second Cypher performance.
"It's something we look forward to every year," Warren said. "It’s a huge honor to represent our school in Houston. Traveling to Rice gives us a unique chance to see other K-pop dance teams perform, something we don’t often experience at Texas A&M. It’s inspiring and motivating to be part of this larger community."
Former BASYK member Jenny Park ’23 said returning to Cypher brought back memories of friendship and community formed through dance.
"BASYK was definitely my group of closest friends while at Rice," Park said. "Learning alongside everyone built strong connections, which is why I keep coming back to support my friends."
Abbie Wang joined BASYK at a friend's encouragement and said participating in Cypher strengthened her bonds with classmates.
"At first, I only knew one person in my group," said Wang, a McMurtry College freshman. "Now we’re all really close, and I'm glad I got to meet these people. It was initially nerve-racking to perform in front of such a large audience, but once we got on stage, all the nerves disappeared.”
Beyond fostering community, Park said Cypher is also artistically ambitious.
"There's a lot of artistic creativity involved," Park said. "From choreography and formations to filming — it's visually impressive."
Paul Mayer, a graduate student in electrical and computer engineering, said Cypher is a remarkable artistic and community event.
"From an arts perspective, the choreography immediately stood out," Mayer said. "The dancing was a huge part, but the lighting, costumes and production quality were also incredible. It was impressive how much energy was in the room."
Mayer said Cypher was an energetic celebration that brings diverse dance forms together, creating an inclusive and dynamic atmosphere.
"The show wasn't stuffy at all," Mayer said. "You could genuinely feel the passion in the room. Given how busy Rice students are, the amount of time and effort they dedicated to making this event successful is really inspiring."
Mayer also said he enjoyed the diversity of dances at Cypher, where the performances ranged from breakdancing and K-pop choreographies to ballroom and multicultural styles.
"There was an incredible synthesis of styles from different cultures — African, Korean, western — and it was amazing to see them all in one place," Mayer said. "Everyone who attended probably saw a dance style or cultural expression they hadn't experienced before."
Reflecting on the growth and success of Cypher, Nguyen-Hoang said she sees a bright future for the club.
"Our collaboration with other universities will definitely continue," Nguyen-Hoang said. "It’s rewarding to see how much the community appreciates dance. BASYK and Cypher are only going to grow from here."
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