Photo by katie van keuren Prime Minister mixing for Dance + Noise = Altitude

A naked torso will probably capture your attention. DNA, Dance + Noise = Altitude, was a feast for the eyes, ears and mouth, with free pizza, grinding music and impressive graphics: lightening, bouncing balls and of course, spinning naked torsos. Must be a Dutch thing.

The rave took place on September 22 in the Commons Annex basement from 9 p.m. to midnight. Guest DJs King James (Medicinal Productions) and Prime Minister (Primetime Productions) provided music, while the Headrush Duo provided graphics. A total of about 200 Calvin students attended this function.

A “Calvin Rave” seemed strange to some; raves often have a negative connotation associated with the frequent abuse of drugs and alcohol. And honestly, if they had to offer pizza to get people to come, could it really be that good? Worse still, would it, like many events, be catered by the Calvin Food Service?

Eventually, realizing that spending a Friday evening doing homework and watching TGIF would be lame, a number of students gathered in the Commons Annex basement for a spectacular display of sight and sound. People from many different backgrounds – from techno lovers to the uninitiated – entered the flickering room and were met with flickering lights and overpowering music.

Many fears were alleviated upon arrival: most people were dressed in fairly normal attire, the pizza was real, the drug and alcohol use was not evident. Most of the people present seemed to be having a good time. Although the numbers died down later in the evening, a good number of Calvin students were present at this event.

Perhaps even more impressive was the not unexpected diversity found among the participants. No more “many shades of blond” Calvin-style diversity – the people present at the rave comprised one of the more diverse groups of people seen in one room on Calvin’s campus. Since the rave occurred on the same night as Urban Outreach, a time when young urban teenagers spend a night at Calvin, a number of urban teenagers saw this as part of their first impression of Calvin. A number of them reported enjoying this event.

Of course, the rave was not without its glitches. Some couples seemed to be taking responsible freedom a little bit too far. For those uninitiated or neophytes, the music seemed to be repetitive. It seemed difficult to tell when one song ended and another began. The strobe lights probably could have been better positioned . Overall, however, these were minor complaints.

But whatever one’s final evaluation of the rave, it was certainly important in one regard: it gave Calvin students the ability to broaden their horizons within a Christian environment. This event allowed students to experience a “rave”–the corporate experience of strong music and a rhythmic beat coupled with incredible graphic displays–within a safe environment. College is supposed to be a time of personal growth and exploration, something which this event was surely geared towards.

All in all though, the rave seemed a fun diversion from normal Calvin life. If they offer one again, it would definitely be worth checking out, especially if they offer free pizza.

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