The Spring Contemporary Dance Showcase was hosted in Saperstein Theater, Friday, May 1, 2026. The showcase brought energy, emotion, and creativity to the stage as dancers performed pieces that celebrated confidence, individuality, and connection. After around two months of preparation the group put on an amazing performance, showcasing all their hard work and effort.
“The theme of the whole show was mostly about energy which started with the video at the beginning of the show and us passing around the orb of energy between the DP and CDW2 classes. The dance right after the video (All for You) continued the story of energy. The self-love and confidence were more shown in Élan and On the Floor, which were my smaller group dances” said Hailey Vang ’29.
Although the final performance appeared polished on stage, students faced several struggles behind the scenes. “Some difficulties included a short amount of time to learn the choreography and working together in the creation process. Our first show was at the end of February, and with spring break, we were limited with the amount of time we had to create and clean our pieces. We ended up having to come into the studio during several WIN periods and breaks to make sure our dances were ready for the show” said Vang.
Regardless of these challenges, the showcase became a meaningful experience for everyone involved. Much of the rehearsal process took place during class time, where students put in hard work during rehearsal time. Dancers were also expected to rehearse independently outside of class so the dances are easily memorized.
Teachers additionally hoped students would gain a stronger sense of community through the experience. Throughout rehearsals and backstage moments, dancers from different grade levels came together and supported and encouraged one another. ”More than anything, I hope students gain a sense of community. There is something incredibly special about coming together to put on a performance. The theatre is a magical place, both onstage and backstage” said Dance Teacher, Andrea Burr.
For many ninth graders and other dancers, Friday’s showcase marked their final performance. “I really feel that we left it all on the stage,” said Vang. The dancers deserve a huge congratulations on their amazing performance they put on to wrap this year up.
