By Kathryn Roth and Jazzy Born, Staff Writers
The River Hill Dance Department is beyond ecstatic to finish the year with their annual Spring Dance Concert, which will take place on May 18th and 19th at 7pm. The dancers are prepared to put on a fantastic show full of different dance styles and music.
As the number of days before the concert dwindles, the final touches are being made. Senior Becca Tow shares, “Currently all of our dances are finished and we are in the stages of cleaning all the dances in order to make sure they are stage ready. We have all been working extremely hard both in and out of class to practice.”
Remembering the steps, feeling the music, and performing to the best of their ability can is challenging for the dancers at times, especially when performing in front of an audience. Senior Mona Zand elaborates, “I’ve been doing a lot of mental preparation by giving myself a clear mind so I don’t panic and forget dances during the actual concert.” For many dancers, it is a mental game with themselves that they must win to put on the best show that they can.
The dancers are feeling a mix of emotions going into this concert. Junior Noa Hen explained, “I feel very excited but also anxious at the same time. I am also very sad that it is our last concert of the year.” Each performance is going to be unique, so even the dancers are looking forward to watching their peers perform.
Beyond what the dancers put into their performances, lighting, props, and costumes contribute largely to the show as a whole. Ms. Byrd, the dance teacher, describes that a large part of her preparation for the concert is creating the lighting cues for the concert. She adds, “This is probably the most overwhelming yet rewarding part. I really feel like the lighting can bring a routine to a whole new level!” Ms. Byrd has also been working on costumes for the dancers, trying to elevate the look of the concert with the best costuming and props.
So much happens behind the scenes when the marley (dance flooring) is laid down and taped, props are built, and lighting cues are planned. Although it’s a ton of work, Ms. Byrd appreciates many people working at River Hill for their generous help, including Bob, the set builder, Al, who programs the lights, Ms. Meyer and the tech crew, senior Jason Nguyen and the Blue Room Breakers and Becca Tow for creating the slides.
Ms. Byrd hints at some of her favorite pieces, exclaiming, “I cannot wait to see Covergirl take the stage! It has everything and will really show the audience that we came to slay!” Another piece that she is looking forward to is “Salute.” Ms. Byrd praises her dance II-IV class for having “a bunch of athletic powerhouse dancers” and exclaims that they “really bring it for this routine and I am looking forward to seeing them carry the show’s energy all the way to the end of the concert!”
As the school year comes to a close and the last dance performance of the school year approaches, everyone is ready to take the stage and dance their hearts out. With all the effort that has been put into the preparation for this concert behind the scenes, it should truly be a performance like no other.