The Performance Pack Leaders on a Successful Fall Semester and What’s Coming Up in the Spring

The Performance Pack Leaders are a diverse team of students who volunteer to represent the performance groups they are involved in as well as the Department of Performing Arts and Technology as a whole. 

They assist with the department’s outreach and engagement efforts, share information about the department’s resources and opportunities, regularly meet with the department head, Stuart Benkert, and serve as overall role models within the department.

As the semester ends, group members share the work the Performance Pack Leaders have planned for the spring and their favorite dance and music moments from the fall term.

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Emmie Cumby serves as director of Performance Pack Leaders. Cumby is a third-year majoring in business administration with a human resources concentration and minoring in psychology, Spanish, and leadership: cross-disciplinary perspectives. She is involved in the department through marching band, varsity pep band, and wind ensemble.

She said her favorite part of the semester was the Latin show the marching band did: “My grandfather used to play Malagueña, so I loved to have that connection to him.”

Cumby says she joined the Performance Pack Leaders because she “wanted to be able to make a difference” within her department “and have a positive impact” on the groups she loves.

She says the group plans to host events that allow students within dance and band, which generally do not intersect often, to get to know each other. She adds, “We also hope to become a point of contact for students to ask questions to.”

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Brianna Bernhardt, a second-year student majoring in communication and minoring in arts entrepreneurship, acts as the music chair for DPAT’s Performance Pack Leaders.

As a clarinetist for the Power Sound of the South Marching Band, Bernhardt is most excited to continue exploring ways to strengthen the dance and music community at NC State because “opening the floor to new connections and creating more outreach opportunities will contribute to unique performances and events for the DPAT in the near future.”

“I’ve really enjoyed the community surrounding DPAT this semester, and every semester for that matter,” Bernhardt explained. “Not only have I built strong relationships in the department, but I always look forward to opportunities to meet new people. Through DPAT, there’s something for artists of all backgrounds, and my favorite moments come from celebrating the work of others.”

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Sharp is a third-year majoring in fashion and textile management with a concentration in brand management and marketing. She has a minor in dance and is involved in Terrain Dance Project.

She said her favorite part of being involved in Performance Pack Leaders has been ​​“getting to know the band group and seeing what similarity we have as well as all the brainstorming we do to grow our department.” 

Sharp said she wanted to get involved in order to see what role students could have in helping to listen to their fellow students and implement change, with the group’s aim being “leaving the department better than we found it and making an impact.”

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Stout is a fourth-year student majoring in animal science with a concentration in pre-veterinary bioscience and minoring in dance choreography and performance. She is involved in the Panoramic Dance Project.

Stout said her favorite part of the fall semester was the Fall Dance Concert, during which she was able to showcase her work with the company.

She said she joined the Performance Pack Leaders “to advertise and advocate for dance at the university level.” She added that she hopes “NC State will continue to expand the arts department and that more students will begin to realize the presence of the program.”

She said that, for now, the group is “discussing ideas to promote the department during NCSU’s annual Day of Giving” and looking ahead to finding ways to unify the department and increase collaboration.

Stout is also looking ahead to the “Panoramic Dance Project spring showcase in late March, as well as all of the guest artist residencies the company has scheduled for the spring semester.”

She says, as a part of Performance Pack Leaders, she is “excited for the various programs of the DPAT to continue to cross paths.”

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For those thinking of getting involved with the Performance Pack Leaders, Cumby says, “Do it! The Performance Pack Leaders group is a great way to get to know students who not only have different musical backgrounds and experiences but come from all over and are majoring in so many cool things.”

“It’s also just a super supportive and passionate group that wants to make a difference in the department and NC State as a whole,” she added.

Stout echoed this saying, “Be an advocate for the arts! There is so much passion and joy to be found in any artistic endeavor, and we need voices to project that throughout the university.”

“We are always looking for people who want to make an impact and have ideas on what they can do,” said Sharp.

“If you are a proactive performer who showcases leadership, devotion, connection, and excitement within your art form, this is the group for you,” Bernhardt added.