we are

gen. 14

2024-2025

With a vibrant core of fresh, young members and a some returning members, we can't wait to show you what's in store! Whether you're joining us for a single workshop or dancing with us all year long, we want to see YOU on the dance floor with us!

we are

gen. 13

2023-2024

With a core made up of returning core and new faces, we can't wait to show you all what we have in store! No matter if it's one workshop or all year, we want YOU to come dance with us!

we are

gen. 12

2022-2023

With an almost brand new core, we can't wait to bring you another crazy, fun-filled Common Origins year. Whether it's for the whole year or just one workshop, we can't wait to have you dance with us!

we are

gen. 11

2021-2022

With our most veteran leadership yet, with over two-thirds returning from last year’s CORE, CO excitedly plans and prepares for a responsible return to ChaOtic, in-person dance. We’re super excited to bring the CO energy back to campus and can’t wait to have you join us!

we are

gen. 10

2020-2021

In the midst of unprecedented times, our COre is working to give its members the best experience, keeping our COmmunity strong through socially-distant online workshops and events. Even though we aren't able to all be on campus together, we hope to have a fun, groovy year!

we are

gen. 9

2019-2020

A COre of long-time CO members and fresh dancers brought diverse experience levels and styles to Common Origins generation 9 - also the year of CO's 10th anniversary! We hope you followed us (or joined us!) in our journey through the rest of the year for a line-up made up of heart, grooves, technicality, and litness!

gen. 8

2018-2019

A relatively young COre and a new generation of Common Origins members brings us through to the 9th year of our ever-striving team. With a hype and out-of-this world Breaking Ground set, we took to the stars and showed out our Stanford presence once again with a completely packed auditorium. The team achieved record team members winter quarter and the COmmunity thrived through the rest of the year for an incredible year.

gen. 7

2017-2018

With experienced members transitioning into a completely new COre, the year started off magically with our Harry Potter-themed Breaking Ground, again filling Dinkelspiel Auditorium to capacity. As winter quarter rolled around, however, unfortunate timing and external happenings led to a shortage of regular choreographers. Fortunately, perserverance and guest choreography from CO's past brought life back, continuing to push CO to grow and take on anything.

gen. 6

2016-2017

Inspired by the heightened sense of community from the past spring, this year's COre was excited to keep that momentum going. They hoped to highlight and reinforce one of CO's defining characteristics: its unique blend of inclusivity and hunger for personal growth. This goal was supported by two efforts during the summer: weekly summer dance workshops and the organization of choreography challenges, which pushed CO's dancers to explore and develop their individual styles. With the Breaking Ground roster set at 57 people, the largest it had ever been, there was no doubt that the coming year would be one of the team's most exciting and expansive ones to date.

gen. 5

2015-2016

This year was defined by a relatively young COre, over half of which were sophomores. Despite their young age, these choreographers brought a powerful creative energy to the team's leadership, and in conjunction with the other returning COre members, succeeded in furthering the team's evolution. Some of the highlights of the year were the popularization of team freestyle circles, the expansion of Choreo Days (both in the number and type of performances, which included dance covers, collabs, and freestyles), and the largest team roster in CO history at Alliance's Hipnotized show in the spring.

gen. 4

2014-2015

As a new age dawned on Stanford University, Common Origins once again rose from the ashes with a new leadership team. In order to ride on the momentum of past success the team began anew with CO7, a James Bond-inspired theme, for Breaking Ground. For the first time ever in the schoolwide shows' history, the fire marshal entered the humble stage of Dinkelspiel Auditorium, stating that the venue was at its maximum capacity. The show was a huge success and foreshadowed another bountiful year for CO. Holistically, the year was riddled with new blood, old friends, and mutual boba, but together, the team thrived and continued on the path of ensuring the happiness of its members.

gen. 3

2013-2014

So it began again. With an amazing COre committee of seven choreographers, two publicity officers and two financial officers, CO was ready to have an amazing year ahead. Our 2nd annual show, "Breaking Ground", completely filled up with over 700 guests and was a spectacular show with amazing performances by groups on and off-campus and featuring Common Origins' largest roster of 43 dancers.

gen. 2

2012-2013

The third year. At this point, CO has established a large presence on campus. This was evident in the large turnout at their first ever fall show show entitled "Breaking Ground", with a set themed "The Seven Deadly Sins." With brand new leadership, CO became more democratic, more unified, and more expanded in set diversity and size. Inviting more guest choreographers and having workshops to continue working on their dancing ability, the group saw its largest membership of 31 people. There is nowhere else to go but up.

gen. 1

2011-2012

The second year of the family's existence. The first year with a core with co-presidents and main choreographers. An amazing year. This year saw the first themed set, saw the establishment of Choreo Days, and a surge of new and upcoming dancers. With a drive to constantly improve and a refusal to stop learning, CO steadily improved in their dancing ability. By the time, Spring Quarter rolled around, the dancers were learning pieces from guest choreographers from professional dance groups. A successful year for Common Origins. And although the co-founders Phil and Marcus are stepping down from leadership, the transition is sure to be filled with amazing, confident leaders who will ensure continued progress and growth.

gen. 0

2010-2011

The founding individuals who gave the group its roots. No strangers to unusual rehearsal spaces, these few were the ones who practiced in parking structures, lounges, basketball courts and old dining halls before Common Origins started practicing in studio space. They started it all. Everything was still unsure. Nothing was set in stone and precedents were still to be made. Back when no one knew about the group, they persevered to establish Common Origins as a new force in the dance community.