NRG spells "energy" for The Natural Rythm Group dance troupe and the 1993 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.

NRG will perform at the dance marathon and transferring this energy by leading line dances, which the dancers do periodically to refresh and refocus themselves.

Group member Kym Salvadori (senior-special education) described their routines of kicks, pops and glides as "energetic, fun, funky, fresh."

They use all parts of the body, integrating styles of street dance, ballet, jazz, hip-hop and other forms, getting on their knees, bending and falling onto their hands.

Their performances, usually for festive occasions, range from one with Urban Bush Women last summer in Eisenhower Auditorium to recent Homecoming celebrations. They even finished in the top 15 in the 1990 MTV Madonna Vogue Video Contest taped at Mr. C's (now Players, 112 W. College Ave.).

The members' different backgrounds influence their mixed, exited, flowing style. Their training experiences range from improvisation, jazz, tap and ballet to gymnastics, cheerleading and club moves.

But in some cases, like Jarl Jonas (senior-secondary education), members have little or no formal training at all.

Jonas said his style formed from "very observational" club dancing, where he enjoys working up a sweat and blowing off steam.

"(Dancing) lets me get it all out," he said.

Founding member and main choreograper Fred Pye said, "Dance is my way of expressing myself. Before I could walk, my parents saw me react to music."

When asked about the group's penchant for closely packed formations, he responded that it was basically a function of their usual performance environment.

"Usually, the club is so packed you can't move many people. If you're lucky you get a 10-foot by 10-foot area," he said.