Dancers sat backstage, anticipating the finale to their last showcase as seniors. They waited for the last number to go on, ending the show in a way that had never been done before. Knowing the senior dance showcase was soon to arrive, dance senior Emily Schwartz choreographed  a contemporary piece entitled “the number one game” which would become the final act of the show.

“I went to a summer intensive dance camp over the summer, and a game that we played there is what really inspired this whole piece. It took 4 weeks to make, but I had a group of friends helping me that actually are dancers in the piece,” Schwartz said

This year, the dance department took a different approach towards the senior showcase. Rather than having their show in Meyer Hall’s main stage theater, it was moved to the Black Box Theater. Also instead of showcasing large group dances, each senior got to perform a solo, giving them an opportunity to shine.

“Everyday, for about the last month we have constantly been practicing our dances both in and out of school,” dance senior Maddie Ricker said. “We’ve been rehearsing for the show and I think all the dancers are excited for it.”

That freedom inspired each dancer to innovate, plan, practice and rehearse tirelessly as the spotlight would shine on them as an individual.

“This is a whole new idea, the dance department has never [had a] performance in the Black Box theater, and it features all solos and one duet which is different from our usual group routine, ” Ricker said.

Dance is more than just quick movements and coordination. For some students, dance has changed their lives and will have an impact on their futures as well.

“It’s really sad, yet really exciting because we are moving on to bigger and better things,” Ricker said. “Although I’ve been dancing with these people since I was in middle school at Bak, it will be cool to dance with them one last time.”

Dreyfoos not only works on the technique of each dancer, but it builds character, giving students unique opportunities to work with outside choreographers, shaping each individual into a potential professional.

“Dreyfoos has taught me many things, but the most important is showing me what it is like to be a professional dancer, in the real world, they bring guest choreographers from different companies and it teaches you how to act in a professional environment,” dance senior Eddie Omar Gonzalez said.