By Emily Duncan, Staff Writer & Amanda Alfanos, Editor-in-Chief
Mike McCarthy
Mike McCarthy is a self-described perfectionist.
Like many perfectionists, he has high expectations of himself. As expected, prepping for his dance for the annual Student Choreography Show was no exception.
Of the three dance pieces McCarthy proposed to dance department officials for his senior capstone, his number-one choice was chosen and approved.
McCarthy said he is excited and lucky for the opportunity to choreograph his number-one choice.
“I want to take the opportunity to do more with choreography,” he said. “I’ll be choreographing to the song “Cinema Italiano” from the movie “Nine.” It’s going to be a stylized music theater jazz piece.”
When choosing his piece of music McCarthy said the feeling was indescribable.
“It’s just when inspiration strikes you, it’s really hard to explain,” he said.
Wanting to challenge himself, McCarthy said he chose this piece for a number of reasons.
“I really love the song, and it’s engaging and dynamic with lots of accents, quiet moments and drums,” he said. “And personally I don’t think music theater comes naturally to me.”
Molly Allard, dance performance junior, was among one of the eight women chosen for a spot in McCarthy’s dance.
“I was really excited when I heard about his piece,” she said. “Other people’s reactions around me heightened my expectations when we were being told the different types of dances.”
Allard said she describes the dance as “sexy.”
“Our costumes, the statuesque show girls and the powerful and sharp interpretations of the music mixed with smoother movements are how I justify this,”she said.
McCarthy and Allard agreed rehearsals were going smoothly and quickly.
“We can rehearse three hours a week and I’ll absolutely need it, McCarthy said. “Not only for teaching choreography, cleaning and how the costume is going to work with the dance, but I’m a perfectionist.”
“My goal will be doing the best I can to make it as perfect as I can.”
The annual Student Choreography Show’s success can determine whether or not a dance performance senior will graduate.
Known as their capstone class, a dance performance senior is required to select, choreograph, provide costumes and design lighting for a dance number for the Student Choreography Show.
Upon completion of the show, dance performance seniors are graded by the dance faculty and must receive a satisfactory pass to graduate with a degree, said Kari Shaw, instructor of dance.
To help prepare students for the show, dance performance juniors are required to take a choreography theory class.
“Within this class they’ll learn theory, while also choosing and purposing three potential show pieces for the dance faculty jury to choose for their senior piece,” Shaw said. “By the end of the class one of the numbers will have been approved.”
Students, faculty, staff and families will be able to see the Student Choreography show at 7 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. on October 16 in the Kirkpatrick Auditorium. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling 405-208-5227.
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