By Liz Spano, Student Reporter

The SHADES step squad performed its last show of the year this weekend with its spring show, The Office, which members and students agreed was a success.

The performance, which was Friday and Saturday nights in Cullen Auditorium, was a mixture of stepping routines and skits that combined the talent, creativity and hard work of SHADES and other students.

“I think that it went great,” said SHADES member Jasmine Jones, captain and junior human resource management major from Austin. “I felt like there was a lot of energy, and it was really fun when the crowd interacted with the jokes. Everyone was committed, from the people who helped sell tickets to the performers.”

The show was inspired by a spin-off of the popular sitcom The Office, with skits and step routines created by the SHADES team.

The story took place in an office setting with two main characters played by Jones and Demarco Howard, head captain and junior fine arts major from Houston. Jones portrayed Petunia, the shy and awkward co-worker of Albert, played by Howard. The two characters shared a mutual attraction but lacked the confidence to approach one another. With the help of other co-workers who provided advice and encouragement, Petunia and Albert finally gathered the courage to speak to each other.

SHADES conducted tryouts before the show for students and local musicians to perform short skits. In between the show’s acts, the squad performed step routines, and other students sang, danced and performed other short skits.

“It turned out better than expected,” Howard said. “There were a lot more people than we had hoped, and it was said to be one of the best we ever put on.”

Howard said members of SHADES spent four months preparing for the spring show, and the team will continue to practice and improve techniques for future shows next semester.

Sandy Amstutz, sophomore information technology major from La Feria, said she always enjoys attending SHADES shows and supporting her friends, and this weekend’s show was performed well.

“It was really entertaining,” Amstutz said. “I thought that all their routines were really well done. You could tell they had a lot of fun with it, and we did too.”