With 29 dances in less than two hours, “Lights, Camera, Dance!” represented seven months of learning, cleaning, marking and performing for Dance II-IV students.

Dancers in all the advanced classes attended rehearsals from May 15 -18 for their three shows May 19 – 20 themed “Lights, Camera, Dance!”. The shows consisted of a sold-out opening night at 7p.m. May 19, a matinee at 2 p.m. May 20 and a closing show at 7 p.m. the same night. 

Advanced dance teacher Mrs. Mallory Ansley, dance interns, or a combination of both choreographed the routines present in the show. 

 “The process of making choreography, selecting music and creating formations are a 100% collaborative process with my peer interns and Ansley. Cooperating with others makes the process of creating choreography much easier, whether it be asking another intern for help on a specific piece of a routine or needing an opinion from Ansley,” Bowen Dayrit said.

Interns or Ansley taught the dances in equal segments, teaching a third of the dance each day and using the final days to clean and test dancers on their ability to pick up the routine. 

With songs ranging from a remix of the intro to “Kim Possible” to “Mean Girls: The Musical”’s “Revenge Party,” a variety of styles, ranging from tap to hip-hop were showcased in the show. There were also dances for seniors and interns exclusively. 

Katie Lacy said, “When I got off of [the] stage during the finale with my graduation gown on, I cried. For me, right now, I don’t see myself dancing on a stage in front of a crowd again. That feeling of being under the lights and hearing the roar of the crowd is one of the best feelings ever. Being a senior is exciting and sad at times, but this weekend will always make me remember my senior year.”

Gallery • 12 Photos

In her costume for a dance inspired by the film “Austin Powers,” Marissa Girard stretches with other students on the stage before dress rehearsal. “Dancers warm up our muscles with cardio first, and then get to stretching. Stretching allows us to do what we do without getting injured, and with more flexibility and strength -- it allows for more skills you can do when it gets to showtime. For me personally, stretching is really a time I can get in the zone for a performance,” Girard said. Photo by Isabella Tomasini

by JULIA CUYOS, SOFIA DUNMORE & ISABELLA TOMASINI