Hearing the audience from behind the curtain and the blinding lights of the theater, the dancers let their energy out and into their performance. While stress was on for the Dance I showcase April 10-11, students learned choreography bit by bit each class. While they worked closely with the in terns who watched the dance and listened to ensure every movement hit the correct beats. 

“You have to learn a lot of choreography,” Subesa Thapa said. “Your interns, your teachers, they’re relying on you to help put your dance together.”

Along with the work that was done on stage, Ms. Ciera Askerneese coordinated the original costumes. She often reused costumes from previous years and advanced dance shows but added new things to their repertoire. 

“To keep it all fresh and new we like to order some new ones. A lot of them came from either Weissman or from SHEIN,” Askerneese said. 

Using skills acquired during their time in the dance program, dance interns choreographed all 16 of the dances for the show and collaborated with one another to ensure understanding with approximately 100 participants across all periods. 

“The dance interns are very helpful when it comes to extra eyes,” Askerneese said. There are multiple ones for each class period, and we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without them.”

Interning is a way to develop leadership skills and can serve as a gateway to teaching. As they continued to work with Dance I, many advanced students in the dance program interned to cultivate student leadership. 

Katelyn Jones said, “It helped me grow as a person and grow in helping others, as I want to pursue other teaching stuff in my future.”

by JULIETTE CASTRO & ISABELLA GIMROTH