Sonoma State’s highly anticipated Lip Jam, the 32nd-annual lip-sync and dance competition and fundraiser hosted by Alpha Gamma Delta, takes place Friday. Fraternities and sororities rehearsed up to three nights a week for the past month to perfect their dances after last year’s performance packed Weill Hall and raised about $30,000 for the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation.
This year’s theme is Coachella headliners, featuring Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Doja Cat, and more. Past themes include Billboard Top 100, Grammys, and Super Bowl halftimes. Greek organizations participated in Penny Wars, a fundraising competition in November, to have the first pick of artists. AGD raised funds throughout the semester leading up to Lip Jam, including dine-and-donates at restaurants like Mary’s Pizza Shack and Chick-fil-A. All proceeds go to the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation, partnered with Meals on Wheels and Feeding America to fight food insecurity.
Nine Greek organizations will compete for awards, with additional performances by AGD’s new members and seniors, and Sonoma State’s dance team, Sapphires. Performances are evaluated on factors like lip-syncing, coordination, and enthusiasm. Last year, Alpha Sigma Phi won “Best Fraternity” and Gamma Phi Beta won “Best Sorority” for their performances of the 2020 and 2016 Superbowl halftime shows respectively.
Ellie Giorgi and Abby Reutlinger are AGD’s Lip Jam coordinators this year, leading their chapter throughout the event. “It’s a lot of behind-the-scenes logistical work. But when it comes to the couple weeks leading up to Lip Jam, it’s kind of our go time,” said Giorgi. “We’re proud to say that Lip Jam is the biggest philanthropy event on campus at Sonoma State. It brings a lot of people together all wanting to participate in one thing for a good cause.”
As Alpha Omicron Pi’s Lip Jam coordinator, Coreen Brogan, a fourth-year communications major, choreographed her chapter’s performance and led rehearsals. “It’s a lot of planning, making sure it gets executed, organization. I haven’t taught since I was 19, and I really enjoy dancing. Putting both of those things together and getting in a room with people I know and care about motivates me to see the vision get completed,” said Brogan.
“All of us enjoy it, even though it is hard work, just because we’re doing it together. Lip Jam brings all the chapters together like no other activity on campus,” said Ariel Friedman, a third-year criminal justice major and member of Alpha Delta Pi. “I was a cheerleader my whole life, so being on stage like that is really nice for me. There’s no feeling like when you walk off stage and you know that all of your sisters are with you.”
“Performing in front of an audience is always enjoyable, showing what you’ve been working towards with people that you feel comfortable enough to be on stage with. And getting to watch everyone come to life and be so enthusiastic and silly…we’re having fun, we’re dancing to music and we’re doing it for charity,” said Brogan. “Watching chapters in the moment is amazing. They all look so excited to be together. They look like brothers and sisters, you know, and I think that’s the point of Greek life.”
Lip Jam 2025 will take place in Weill Hall on Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. Tickets and more information can be found at tickets.sonoma.edu.
