The Ann Lacy School of Dance and Entertainment began work this week on their virtual spring dance show, “Spring into Spring.”
Jo Rowan, professor of dance and chair of the Ann Lacy School, said this production will differ from previous years because there will not be a formal audition process. Any student who wants to participate in the show can sign up.
“For the spring show, we will be featuring our Star Dancers instead of our American Spirit Dancers. The difference is that any student from our school who would like to perform is able to be a member of the Star Dance Company,” Rowan said.
Rowan said nearly 200 students – dance majors and non-majors alike – signed up to participate in the show. She said the dance school could not audition 200 students efficiently and safely amidst COVID-19.
“So, hey, you want to do it? We’re here to teach you, and we’re going to do it,” Rowan said.
The official breakdown of “Spring into Spring” features 14 songs choreographed by various dance faculty and staff members. The night will include a variety of musical theatre, jazz, tap and ballet numbers covering a spectrum of proficiency levels.
“We have split the performers into three blocks. Each block has three weeks to record the dancers in their dance, performing solo. There will be one dancer to a studio with one choreographer and one videographer,” Rowan said. “We are doing this with nearly 200 people.”
Rowan said coordinating the production has proved to be a unique challenge in a time when every student and faculty member is pulled in different directions.
“The big trick to all this is putting the puzzle pieces together,” Rowan said. “Assuring people aren’t called to two places at one time requires a tremendous amount of time communicating.”
Rowan said both students and teachers have already shown incredible efficiency and passion in putting together “Spring into Spring.”
Mackenzie Farrell, dance junior, said the dance faculty sent out a survey to place students in their dances as an alternative to auditions.
“We have a virtual callboard now, and they posted a survey with every single dance and choreographer listed,” Ferrell said. “We ranked the top three dances we wanted to be in, and they cast us in our dances based on that. That was really all we had to do.”
Farrell said she is dancing in a rhythm tap number choreographed by Cassandra Van Houten, associate professor of dance. She said she misses performing for a live audience, but she is thankful for the school’s willingness to adapt to the circumstances.
“They adjusted really well and did the best they could with everything going on. I thought the video for the Christmas show was great, and as time goes on, the videos they make will just keep getting better and better,” Farrell said.
Farrell said the one-on-one studio time the dancers are getting with the choreographers is incredibly helpful, so she is looking forward to having that with the spring production.
“I feel lucky to get the opportunity to perform and do it in person,” Farrell said. “Even though most of our rehearsals are over Zoom, just being able to go into the studio and dance and put a source of entertainment out there for people feels really great.”
“Spring into Spring” started rehearsals Feb. 1. Information on performance dates can be found on the School of Dance Instagram page and the School of Dance website.
Leave a Reply