Skyline’s Ballroom Team held their annual spring concert on March 20 and 21 based on the theme “Feeling Good.” This theme was derived from their opening number using Michael Bublé’s song by the same name. After the full company opening, audiences continued to be entertained by the subsequent 26 dances from both Ballroom and other dance groups, including Dance 1A, Dance 2/3, and Churchill Junior High’s Ballroom Team.
Considering that most of the dances performed by Skyline’s Ballroom Team were student choreographed, each dance was prepared differently. Dance teacher Kristin Breding explained that her personal approach generally relies on the movement itself, but Ballroom Team captain Gabi Boyden said she most often draws inspiration from music first. The variety in choreography styles reflects how the dancers interpret the theme. Breding said, “They take feeling good like how can you manipulate that into your own way. So, we have a couple of sad numbers, but for the most part, it’s very uplifting.”
Both captains Boyden and Aidan Stephen incorporated the theme as the little joys in life in their respective solo choreographing. Boyden’s “An Evening in the Park” explored how human relationships can feel good by showing a romantic chance meeting. “It’s not often in the world you have people just meet on accident and have an entire fun night, so I just thought it was interesting to think about that coming-together spontaneousness,” she explained. Stephen’s “Strangers in the Rain” also played on spontaneity sparking positive feelings, but his centered less on romance and more on community. He said, “Basically the whole idea is that it’s raining a lot, and then a bunch of random people gather in a bar, and then music starts playing, and they’re like, ‘Hey, we might as well dance.’”
Among many other fun dances, including the high-energy pasodoble “Spicy and Fiesty” by Derek Robertson which both captains highlighted as a favorite to watch, these numbers were given limited class time to get together in comparison to dances for the December Winter Concert. Starting in January, the team had to use their B-day class wisely, splitting the time so two dances could be worked everyday, according to Boyden. While only about 30 seconds would be taught of a dance each class, the hard-working dancers managed to direct their attention to their peers to learn everything in time for performances. However, this doesn’t mean the team didn’t face challenges.
In general, absences can be problematic for Ballroom. Like in other types of dance, missing class will often mean missing choreography, which can be difficult to catch up on. On top of this, the partner relationship distinctive to ballroom dancing is affected. Stephen explained, “Again, you’re dancing with a partner, so you’re leaving your partner all by themselves.” Having the partners together is especially important for tech rehearsals, where lighting and spacing is sorted out. However, the second day of tech overlapped with another performing arts event: UHSAA Region IE Drama Competition. “A lot of people in drama are in ballroom, so that made [reworking spacing] really difficult,” Boyden said.
Despite these challenges, the ballroom concert went well. Regarding the performance on Thursday, March 20, Breding stated, “Everything locked into place. The dancers had great energy, the tech/lighting was smooth, the dances were performed wonderfully.” She added that she thought the Friday performance was weaker but that students should still be proud. “The dances looked clean, and the students gave a fantastic performance,” she explained.
Not everyone saw Thursday as the better night, however. Between nerves, injuries, and costume malfunctions, Boyden thought the performance was “honestly really rough.” She recounted, “One person on the team had an asthma attack after the last number, which was scary but really showed how the team supports each other unfailingly.”
It is because of this support that Boyden will miss ballroom after her graduation this spring. After what she saw as “such an amazing Friday performance,” she’s “so content” with the concert but still “so sad” it’s her last with the group. She stated, “I learn so much about community and support during our ballroom concerts. These people on the team have taught me how to support and love others just the way they are, and show a level of commitment you can’t find anywhere else. I’m going to miss the people and joy I find from that class so much when I graduate.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Kiana Reid
