By Finn Sipes ’22 News Reporter
The Dance Concert is one of the highlights of every trimester at Mercersburg Academy, and this fall production was no exception. The dances this season were emotionally moving, uplifting, fun, and occasionally very creepy. There program featured a great variety of styles and genres, all executed extremely well. With each dance, the audience proclaimed, “Wow, that was incredible.” As the next dance began, they once again commented on another outstanding performance.
The most technically difficult group numbers were the ballet and tap numbers, titled Twilight Reverie and In the Beginning, respectively. Twilight Reverie showcased a small group of pointe dancers who performed alongside the group. The mix between pointe and flat ballet in the same dance worked seamlessly, adding the technical dancers to the group without making the moves too different when the group performed together. The tap number seemed very difficult due to the number of dancers in the piece and the fact that the coordination had to be tight to synchronize the shoes’ sounds, especially when the dancers were in constant motion, creating new and dynamic formations.
This show offered some notable uplifting pieces that created a good mood in the auditorium, from the moment the dance started to the bows at the end. One such number was the Dance Composition’s dance Over Your Head. The performance was sentimental and sweet. The moves were executed so well that it was surprising to learn that the dancers weren’t regular members of the dance PGA. The optimism conveyed by the performance drew an audible “Aww,” from some in the audience. The piece concluded with a yellow umbrella rising gracefully the air.
The last performance, Ballar, was one of the most memorable pieces in the showcase. The choreography exuded confidence, sass, and spunk. If silhouettes, heels, and shiny buttoned jackets don’t immediately make you feel like you want to get up and dance, then there’s something wrong with you. The strong presence and execution of each of the dancers was perfectly balanced, the true mark of an experienced ensemble.
Riley Wick ‘20, who has participated in both seasons of her 2 year career at Mercersburg Academy, danced a solo, Gone, dedicated to her mother. It was beautifully performed, extremely sentimental, and left only one word one ringing through the audiences head: “Grace.” Wick is elegant on her feet in a way that leaves the audience wanting more.
There were two dances that really stood out in the concert. The solo by “Crinkles” featuring Ceara Weiss, was chill inducing and hair raising. The minimalistic style of the lighting amplified the creepiness of Weiss’s contortions and aerial acrobatics. Each giggle in the audio was terrifying. The silence among the audience stood in testament to the effect.
Finally, Works of Mercy, with video accompaniment made by Selnia Xue ‘20 was moving, intense, and conveyed a powerful message. When the video ended, one thought the dance would just bring a conclusion to the story, but instead it built an entire journey that included the viewers. Each time a person fell, you could feel the intensity of the dagger-like pointing. When they performers climbed on top of each other, the support they provided each other radiated from the stage. When the audience members gave standing ovation, every single person became a participant.