I’ve heard about Sigma Delta Tau’s Greek Grind and the chaos of the event every October since being admitted into the University of Georgia. Friends in various sororities have attempted to persuade me to purchase a ticket or join them at livestream watch parties because “it’s seriously so much fun!” My response was always, “I’m not really into dance competitions” or “Tickets are kinda expensive, is it really worth it?”

I didn’t realize until the 2022 “Revive the Grind” that I’ve missed out on one of the fall’s most impressive and exciting competitive events (behind UGA football, of course).

Who Successfully ‘Revived the Grind’?

Dancers from Alpha Omicron Pi gave what it means to be a “Barbie Girl” a new spirit in their dynamic performance featuring a mashup of popular dance songs like T.I.’s “Bring Em Out” and Jennifer Lopez’s “On the Floor” featuring Pitbull.

Five dancers represented different Barbie personalities — doctor, pilot, military, workout and ‘60s disco — and their costumes weren’t the only reason they stood out. The feature performers aced every step of complicated choreography with the dedication to lead the rest of the group and secure a win.

It’s no wonder this group placed first, winning over the panel of judges and adhering to the scoring criteria of creativity and connection to theme. The confidence and demonstration of what it means to have fun while dancing radiated from the stage into a cheering Classic Center audience for the sold-out show.

If there had been a category for the most original fan favorite sorority dance performance, I would have voted for Kappa Alpha Theta.

The group’s “Top Gun” theme and costumes encompassed the film with olive green flight bodysuits, aviator sunglasses and clips of dialogue from the movie played over the “Top Gun Anthem.” The sorority elevated its performance through the use of replica aircrew marshalling wands as props to dance to Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone,” creating a mini light show for the audience in the five-star performance.

Gamma Phi Beta and Delta Phi Epsilon also used pop culture as the foundation for their performances. The two referenced “Stranger Things” through costumes, music and choreography to stand out among the 19 acts.

Each brought their own strengths and drawbacks to their interpretations of the newest season of the popular Netflix original show.

Gamma Phi Beta’s surefooted movements and stunts — the imitation of Max under Vecna’s control was my favorite of the night — made their routine more impressive, but Delta Phi Epsilon had the more creative performance, with Hellfire Club costumes, a Vecna figure and a stronger soundtrack mix.

Not-so-strong standouts

Kappa Kappa Gamma’s performance took on a literal interpretation of “revive the grind,” with lab coat costumes and choreography representing resuscitation. Only one dancer was successful in this attempt at revival, having fun for the rest of the group members, who were too busy worrying about missing their steps.

SDT Greek Grind chooses a celebrity host each year for the event, which had tickets ranging from $25-$60. Host Melissa Gisoni, “dance mom” of Maddie and Mackenzie Ziegler from the reality TV show, spent most of the event mispronouncing the names and abbreviations for the sororities, including Sigma Delta Tau, founder and host of the event.

Don’t let that turn you away from buying a ticket next year. The mess ups from the emcee and her bland commentary didn’t take away from the talent and the high-energy atmosphere during the two-hour show.

The event raised $100,923.30 for Prevent Child Abuse America, continuing its legacy as the most successful philanthropy event for Greek life at UGA, according to the Greek Grind’s website.

I left the event proud of all those funds raised — and almost convinced I could roundoff into a sassy dance number to a TikTok mash-up or popular soundtrack.

Editor’s note: The author is a member of UGA Panhellenic sorority Alpha Gamma Delta.

Katie Beth Williams is a fourth-year journalism major and women’s studies minor.