This year’s Young Choreographers Showcase took place on Nov. 19 and Nov. 20. Preparations have been in full swing since Aug., and the performances gave the audience a chance to admire the hard work and talent of Woodward’s Dance Ensemble.
The showcase is a chance for members of the Dance Ensemble to create their own pieces to perform, rather than pre-choreographed routines. Each choreographer is given four scheduled rehearsals to develop their original pieces before teaching the piece to their peers. Under the guidance of Ms. Jenny Gould, the dance program instructor, students balance these rehearsals with technique classes, guaranteeing they refine both creativity and skill. During this time, choreographers work with a lighting director to enhance their movements on stage. Dancers also explore different styles, from jazz to classical pointe ballet; this year, Jiya Dalal ‘27 has decided to create a Bollywood piece. The process from start to finish helps the dancers build confidence as choreographers and leaders.
“It’s like when you are standing in front of a group of dancers and sharing your vision,” Ms. Gould said, highlighting what students learn throughout the rehearsal process. “It’s [the choreographer’s] baby, and [they] have to trust the dancers–and trust [themselves] as the choreographer.”
For many dancers, creating their own choreography for the first time can be a challenging learning curve, but the result is rewarding. Every movement and decision is their own. Each performance is a unique expression of the choreographer’s creativity; one student, Cecilia Cohen, designed the costumes for the ballet piece she choreographed. Some dancers are using their choreography to make a political statement: Ari Meeker ‘26 choreographed a dance that tells Marilyn Monroe’s story.
“The piece I’m currently working on is to the song ‘Abracadabra’ by Lady Gaga,” Ari said. “I kind of want to talk about [Monroe’s] story and how she was raped, and explain that through my dance and how the world saw her versus the way she actually felt. I’m definitely taking more of a political approach this year. I want [the dancers] to bring some sort of awareness in a way that’s easier for some people to digest. I think dance is a really good way for me to do that.”
As a choreographer for this year’s showcase, Ari didn’t just create her own piece: she was also responsible for guiding her fellow dancers through her choreography. Her role involved balancing authority with encouragement, helping dancers learn the movements while still keeping the rehearsals on task. During this process, Ari sometimes found it difficult to work with her classmates while teaching the piece.
“There have been times when people are just outright disrespectful, and I’ll put my foot down if I have to, but I try to be the nice person first,” Ari said. “[The way I see it], if I don’t learn this, I’m gonna look like a fool on stage; so I tell them, ‘You got this, I know it’s hard.’”
While choreographers like Ari focus on creating and guiding on stage, other students experience the showcase from the performer’s perspective. For the dancers who are not creating their own performance, learning choreography from their classmates is both difficult and exciting. They work to perfect their movements and express the message as the choreographer intended. By being part of another dancer’s choreography, Skylar Robinson ‘27 has the opportunity to connect with different styles and stories.
“I would say, specifically for Ari’s dance, I want to send out the message of justice,” Skylar said. “Her dance is focused on Marilyn Monroe. Her dance is a way of expressing women’s rights, and I’m very excited about expressing that.”
