By Jordan Naddaf, BA Politics and International Relations
When I arrived at SOAS in September 2021, I was ecstatic to be travelling abroad to attend university and begin a new chapter of my life. However, due to the pandemic and its impacts, I had been away from vocal and performing arts for a couple of years, and the lack of a creative environment was starting to take its toll on me. One day, scrolling through Instagram, a post caught my eye: Auditions for West Side Story at SOAS. Filled with anticipation and nerves, I signed up, joining the newly reborn SOAS Drama and Musical Society (DAMS), and embarking on a journey that has been as unpredictable as it has been fulfilling.
At the conclusion of a tumultuous first year consisting of our acquaintance with many of the obstacles faced by new societies, I was hearing my own complex relationship with performance echoed by the voices around me: everyone was afraid of losing the joy and exhilaration of stage performance to the stresses of a student-run group, and thus from the woodwork of a hectic year, a new committee began to emerge. I threw my hat into the ring for Musical Director and held my breath, once again unaware that this simple decision would have such a deep impact on myself and so many others.
I vividly remember the first meeting of our new committee, where we each talked about our hopes and plans for our areas of expertise and promptly discovered that our goals aligned entirely. Every single member expressed a desire to prioritise the protection of DAMS as a safe space for students who find joy in performance. Director and Acting Coach Lizzy Cox described a group with permission not to take themselves too seriously as actors, while Choreographer Aaliyah Ismail echoed goals to help people fall in love with dance. I spoke of the moments of pure joy that I’ve only experienced while creating music as a group and that my priority was creating the space for our members to experience this.
“Every single [committee] member expressed a desire to prioritize the protection of DAMS as a safe space for students who find joy in performance”
Our second year has been, thus far, a huge success. In December 2022, we hosted a variety show in the BGLT, performing an array of skits, duets, dances, and group numbers. Co-presidents Sara Solari and Eboney Pearce stole the show with a haunting ukelele rendition of Steven Sondheim’s ‘Losing My Mind’ and a beautiful performance of Ella Fitzgerald’s ‘Dream a Little Dream’ respectively, and student Suhaylah Yusuf performed her original story-telling monologue exploring Christmas time as a Muslim woman. Vocal coach Izekial Mihai became a crowd-favourite with his drag-influenced delivery of ‘Adelaide’s Lament’, featuring an inconsolable woman with a vintage Brooklyn accent. The final line-up included a K-pop random play dance, a sneak peek of our upcoming musical, and even a collaboration with the Desi Society to stage a Bollywood dance.
Looking back at the year we’ve had, I know one thing with certainty: without the dedication and focus of our committee on preserving and fostering a love of performance, none of this would have been possible. As we make plans for the rest of the year, we encounter financial obstacles, scheduling conflicts, and the complex task of balancing the workload of a full-time student with managing a society, but as long as we continue to prioritise finding joy and fulfilment from sharing the stage with each other, I have no doubts that our success will continue. I feel privileged to work not only with my fellow committee members but also with so many students who have invested their time and talents in DAMS and continue to show up every week. Most of all, I feel incredibly lucky to have found a space with so many others who understand the longing draw of the stage and the spotlight, and who are willing to share and celebrate it together.
Looking ahead, DAMS has some exciting plans, with plenty of opportunities to get involved. The ensemble for our upcoming performance of Rent the Musical in May always has room to grow, and our backstage crew is similarly expanding. On 10 February, some of our members will be performing Valentine’s Day-themed duets and solos in the JCR, and we’re in the planning stages for a unique and interactive rendition of Frozen the Musical. Our group is always looking to welcome more students, whether you are a singer, actor, dancer, or you prefer to stay backstage and help out. Every single member of the team helps shape our group dynamic and society.
So if you’re missing your days of high school choir, the production of the Wizard of Oz you did in fourth grade, or even the dances you learned in gym class, please join us and help us protect performing arts at SOAS!
Photo Caption: The Drama and Musical Society poses for a picture after their variety show in December 2022. (photo credit: Clodagh Pearce)