The Cypress Lake High School Dance Department level three students have been working in pairs to create choreography for an Informal Showing assignment based on one of three things: concept, theme, or narrative. This allows them to explore and open their minds to the idea of creating a dance of their own.
The students love the freedom the informal showing gives them to explore particular areas of passion and interest. Lulu Lieze-Adams and Emma Garcia used all three categories and made their overall theme based on the Covid-19 pandemic. Grace Stanley and Ainsley Myers decided on the concept of dreams. Yesenia Casarrubias Cano and Ashley Garcia decided to take the initiative and do a piece based on addiction. These are just to name a few.
This is not only part of their grade but also a major performance. They showcased their pieces on Nov. 20 in the Black Box. During the performance their peers vote for which dances will be adjudicated into one of the later dance performances called New Visions later in the year!
This isn’t an easy task though. They must follow a rubric and incorporate specific elements into their pieces. Forms of shared weight and counterbalance movements, a lift, and a leitmotif (a phrase or specific movement that represents their theme). They also must be able to use their leitmotif in a variety of ways throughout their dance, and it should also be relatively easy for the audience to understand.
During the performance, the audience, comprised mostly of parents and other dance department members, is allowed to give feedback and opinions after every piece is performed. It gives the dancers and choreographers a chance to learn and understand what the audience attains from their performance.
This showcase allows the level three dancers to really grow and have a better understanding of what it’s like to choreograph for future performances.
