Dance Review: I Made You A Mixtape

I Made You A Mixtape

Dance Theatre Performance

Produced and presented by Response Theatre Company

7th April 2026

7:30-8:30pm

The Cockpit

Nine girls share one dorm. The live dance performance feels like a high school musical, but with a more raw and immediate energy. It captures the essence of youth — full of craziness, unpredictability, support, and bonding, all happening at once.

The structure of the performance is very practical. Over the course of the nights in the dorm, the lives of these nine girls unfold in fragments. Each story, though small, is very real: visa expirations, decisions to stay or leave, relationships, marriage, pregnancy, arguments, and parties. You may recognize familiar traits in each of the characters. Each track helps to build a character, with music that matches their personalities perfectly. There are beautiful moments of friendship that are joyful, dramatic, and sometimes messy—yet very relatable. Although everything occurs in one space, it never feels confined.

The transitions are effective, using 90s tracks and handwritten captions on cardboard to maintain the atmosphere, giving the performance a raw and grounded texture. Group dances and solo performances are seamlessly interwoven with these personal stories, keeping the audience engaged throughout. At times, the scenes feel spontaneous, as if unfolding in real time, while at other moments, they become more structured and choreographed. This balance between improvisation and structure is what makes the work most engaging, reflecting the instability and uncertainty in the lives being portrayed.

The movement draws on a hybrid approach that combines movement and acting, allowing performers to respond to the music almost as if it were a scene partner. This creates a strong sense of immediacy. Elements of waacking, top rock, jazz, and Latin styles are present, but the focus is not on showcasing these styles. Instead, they are incorporated into the overall narrative, maintaining a clear choreographic structure beneath.

I am thoroughly impressed with the lip-syncing, interaction, and acting, which feel natural and authentic without being overdone. The performance encapsulates the real-life experience of college life. Each story is led by one performer, allowing her to stand out while still remaining connected to the group. There’s something about the overall energy — chaotic, emotional, playful, and occasionally very quiet — that feels like being inside a shared memory. It’s not clean or perfect, but deeply lived. Even when things fall apart, the sense of bonding remains strong.

The authenticity of living and growing together in one dorm gradually draws the audience in. The performance doesn’t settle, and that’s exactly why it stays with you.