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Photograph by Robert Scheer

Brian Brooks rehearses with the other Phaze II dancers.

Watch Their Step

De Anza's Phaze II dancers prowl across the þoor

By Dwana Bain

The crowded De Anza College studio had the atmosphere of an aerobics class and the smile-smile-smile attitude of actors trying out for a spot in the chorus line. The 60 or so dancers performed dizzying spins around the room and Peter Pan-style leaps across the floor.

But even in a roomful of dancers, the members of the Phaze II team stood out. Their twists were precise, their steps were always in line and their choreography displayed the near-perfect unison of a "family" that's put in hundreds of hours on the dance floor together.

The music stopped. The hopefuls trying out for the dance troupe sat on the floor and watched the team about to perform. First the music started, then the cheering, then the dancing.

The team is a smooth, synchronized blend of raw talent, athletic prowess and grace, with more than a touch of attitude.

Phaze II started at De Anza College in 1994 as a way to attract students to the college. It began with six women performing in De Anza's parking lots--often getting gravel imbedded in their knees during the routines.

"We don't do asphalt anymore," said Mia Benjamin, a founding member of the group.

Three years later, the group has expanded to 19, including seven men, and averages more than 100 performances a year.

Phaze II has come a long way from its days of performances on blacktop. The team recently won first place in both the Showstoppers American Dance Championships and the Showbiz National Dance Competition. Phaze II was the only college dance team participating in either event.

Gene Murden, a De Anza outreach officer who formed the team and serves as the director, describes Phaze II's high-energy, seductive style as a blend of hip-hop and jazz. When he adds new members to the team, he searches for the perfect combination of personality and talent.

The dancers of Phaze II are a diverse group. Benjamin has formal training in ballet, jazz and tap and has danced most of her life. Other members have studied jazz or danced on high school teams. Three of the dancers, including Alexis Vergera, one of the team's choreographers, have no formal training.

Michael Saenz, who hopes to transfer to Boston University as a dance major, just started dancing last fall, when he won a spot on the team.

Few, if any, colleges have dance teams comparable to Phaze II, Murden said.

Sunnyvale resident Bryan Simeon added that other schools have dance teams, but they're usually associated with fraternities or sororities.

But Phaze II has a purpose beyond entertainment, he said. School was not a priority for Simeon before he joined the team.

"I wasn't into school at all. ... I was going to go to vocational school."

Simeon was exposed to the team--and the prospects of going to college--by accident, when he drove a buddy to a Phaze II audition

"Gene [Murden] was preaching about school. You're surrounded by education. ... It's really changed my life," said Simeon, who now encourages his friends to go to school.

While dancing is a strong passion, Phaze II members say graduating from college is their primary goal. Good academic standing is required of all team members.

Brian Brooks, who is enrolled in 16 units this quarter, said the GPA requirements motivate him to keep his grades up.

Murden acknowledges that between training, traveling, performing and homework, the dancers have a tight schedule. But he insists that learning to juggle time is a valuable life lesson. Team members say they are willing to make the sacrifice.

In August, the group performed before 2,000 people at Great America's back-to-school summer bash. Phaze II has also danced for MTV and has an upcoming performance on the ABC television network in December.

In spite of the team's popularity, Phaze II has never stopped performing for small audiences.

"It's the smaller groups that are most important because they're who got us where we are," Brooks said.

Simeon said his favorite performance is Phaze II's annual holiday show for terminally ill children at Lucille Salter Packard Children's Hospital. It is also his most difficult, he said..

"I love children. It feels good to put a smile on their faces, but it's hard to see children like that," he said. "The children we perform for are the children who can't go home for the holidays."

Benjamin said that being part of Phaze II gives opportunities she would not have thought possible. The 19- year-old is already teaching dance classes and gets more offers all the time. Benjamin, who joined the team as a high school sophomore, uses every opportunity she can to encourage teenagers to come to De Anza and "see how good a community college can be for someone."

Brooks, one of two members who definitely plan to major in dance, believes his future as a dancer is bright. While the market is flooded with female dancers, men who can dance have a very good chance of landing a job, he said.

Murden is working with three different universities to acquire scholarships for team members who decide to major in dance.

Winning a spot on the team can be difficult. Last fall, Murden auditioned about 80 dancers but chose only nine. Tania Simon was one of the many that didn't make it at last year's tryouts. She wasn't discouraged, however.

"I just said, 'I'll be back!' " This fall, she worked out with the dancers, watched rehearsals to prepare herself for the recent auditions and made the first cuts.

New members must pass a three-month probationary period to see how they function as part of the team.

"We get a good chance to see how they act. If they don't get along, they probably won't be around," said Murden, who has ousted more than one dancer from the team for being difficult.

Since they spend so much time with each other--in rehearsals, on the road and onstage--everyone needs to get along, team members agree.

"We call ourselves a family because we spend so much time together," Brooks said.

The dancers say they are very close, and that there is no rivalry. "We're a very affectionate group," Simeon said. "Everyone that comes into our group is welcomed with open arms."

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, December 3, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.