Silence befalls the room as the lights dim and the curtain ascends–revealing a group of dancers huddled together in the center of the stage; their hair drawn in tight buns and their white dresses gleaming in the spotlight.

The dancers are performing for the annual Spring Into Dance Concert from April 8-10 in Meyer Hall. The event featured dance majors of all grade levels, displaying great diversity and fabricating a story with nothing but music and movement. They performed dances such as excerpts from Swan Lake; The List, a tribute to the Holocaust; and Last Dance, in honor of David Bowie and Freddie Mercury.

“Although the event was over 2 hours, the time flew by so fast,” said dance freshman Barbara Monteiro. “The feeling of being up on stage was exhilarating; I felt so alive in that moment that I wouldn’t trade that memory for anything. Knowing that my friends, family, and the general Dreyfoos community had come out to support me meant so much to me; so when I was performing, even when I was sweaty and exhausted, I could do nothing but smile.”

Some performances were executed by an entire dance class, while other performances were solos. Regardless, immense preparation went into the event–with rehearsals taking place up to two months in advance. While the preparation was undoubtedly mentally, physically, and emotionally draining, dancers were able to enjoy great satisfaction as they saw the rewards of their hard work.

“We rehearsed during lunch, dance class, and after school everyday in the weeks leading up to the concert,” said dance sophomore Lauren Clair. “Sometimes I felt like my feet were going to fall off and I was going to die. But afterwards, words can’t even describe how triumphant I felt. When I look back on this event in the future, I know I’ll be proud of myself.”

The night came to a close with “Ascension,” a dance that starred dance juniors Darius Hickman, Sasha Lazarus, and Ashley Simpson. The movements mimicked the opening of a flower bud, which marks the arrival of Spring.

The audience roared and exclaimed their praise as the dancers took one final bow–a triumphant grin on their faces.

“It was, without a doubt, one of the best dance performances I’ve ever seen,” said communications sophomore Alicia Mracheck. “Everything was so well done; there was so much harmony, grace, and fluidity in their movements. By the end of the night, I was speechless.”