At the end of each school year, dancers from classes, teams and clubs across campus come together to end the year with a bang! For the past 17 years, Ms. Wexler has taken the lead in directing a showcase where these dancers get to present their carefully choreographed pieces and impressive techniques. The showcase centers around an interesting new theme each year, which is developed and voted on by the students in Ms. Wexler’s Advanced Dance class. “Every year I wait for the school year to start,” says showcase director, Ms. Wexler, “because I like the dancers to have a say in what they’re inspired to do. That way they feel more inspired when it comes time to make their own pieces. It’s a lot of work, and it’s very stressful, so I want them to be excited about it. This year, they decided they wanted to do bedtime rituals, like bedtime stories or lullabies, but it’s kind of turned into dreams and nightmares.” Taking on these ideas and the versatility of nighttime rituals, the Advanced Dance class chose the theme, “Goodnight Moon.”
The preparations for this show begin early in the school year, and the theme of the show plants the seeds for the dancers’ individual pieces. “Preparations actually begin at the end of the first semester,” Piper O’Leary-Herreras ‘27, a student from Ms. Wexler’s class explains. “We start by doing a one and a half minute solo that will become part of our choreography for the end of the year show. So it starts really, really early.”
During the process of organizing the showcase, students from both Ms. Wexler’s and Ms. Nastari’s dance programs dive into the world of choreography. This can be a lengthy, multi-faceted process for these student dancers, as they are tasked with coming up with their own choreography, choosing their music and costume pieces, and talking to the dancers they want to collaborate with in putting their pieces on the stage. “My piece is called creatures of the algorithm, and it’s based off of the song Algorithm by Childish Gambino,” says Piper O’Leary-Herreras ‘27. “It centers around AI, and how humans get trapped and stuck in the algorithms of AI and can’t find individuality. It’s playing with the idea of individuality and being stuck in a loop.”
The opportunity to prepare their own pieces allows dancers to embody creativity and grow in their art. However, this operation can come with its stresses. For example, “The dancers also choose their cast, which can be a challenge,” says Piper O’Leary-Herraras ‘27. “I mean, I have so many friends in that class. We’re all just like one big giant friend group, so when it comes to choosing people for your piece, it can kind of feel stressful or awkward. But then when it really comes down to it, we all know and accept that that’s a challenge for everyone.”
With each challenge and need for perseverance, a bond between dancers begins to grow as they share the excitement of making fond memories and preparing for the show. “I just love the behind the stage aspect when we’re in between dances or in between rehearsals, and we’re able to just bond as a class and connect with people who we maybe didn’t get a chance to connect with that year,” shares Margarett Manuel, a sophomore dancer in Ms. Wexler’s class. Ms. Wexler agrees: “Honestly, my favorite time of year is standing in the wings and watching it all come together. The most rewarding moment is the energy of all the dancers when they’re done with their pieces. [They] walk off the wings and there’s an energy when [they] come off – [they’re] like, ‘Oh my God, did you see that?!’ All of the little comments and energy coming off the stage after you’ve performed is, for me, the best.”
The dance program amazed their audience this past weekend with their spectacular show, and all were invited to take a look into a world of dreams, nightmares, and creativity!
