On Thursday November 15, all levels of the Ayala Dance Production demonstrated their excellent performances that they have been working on for months at their “Broadway” themed fall dance concert to their excited friends and family.
Each year, the Ayala Dance Production (ADP) runs two of their biggest performances of the year, their fall and spring dance concerts. Each performance allows students to demonstrate their skills in dancing and leadership through their choreography, outfits, and music choices that were all planned out months in advance. This year for their fall show, the “Broadway” themed dance concert took place captivating the audience with all of the hard work of the Ayala Dance Production.
Dance instructor Ms. Christina Hofstetter who oversees the concert productions strives to teach the students more than just dance. She wants to teach them about the whole experience of it, including the choreography, lighting, music, and costume choices, so they are well-varied in their skills and talents.
“I think it’s really magical for them and they’re able to see [that] this is what choreographing is all about, not just the dances but producing the show,” Hofstetter said.
The dance contained two acts filled with many different types of songs that all tied together to tell a story and develop the theme. The concert was kicked off with an energetic dance to “Mi Gente” where all of the dancers involved with the Ayala Dance production danced their hearts out too.
The songs set the tone for the concert very well as many of them had a jazzy tune, such as “On Broadway” and “Razzle Dazzle.” These were danced passionately by advanced dance and intermediate dance. To finish off act one of two in the concert, the whole of Ayala Dance Production danced to “Lights” showing off their skills of working together.
“I think the choreography helped the theme because the theme was on Broadway and the choreography was really jazzy so it was just fun to watch,” advanced dancer Jayda Darwin (10) said.
Act two consisted of slow songs that got the audience into their feels such as “Made For” and upbeat hip hop songs such as “Hard Knock Life.” The song “Your Skin” was danced by ADP while “Made For” was performed by the advanced dance class. The dance concert was finally finished off with a dance by ADP which was a fast paced song called “Dutchess.”
All of this was a very emotional and happy experience for all of the dancers as this was the last fall concert for the seniors. Many of them shared tears, laughs, and smiles before and after the dance.
All of the preparation that ADP and Mrs. Hofstetter has been doing has come down to this final night, which without doubt, paid off. The perfect blend of hip hop and jazz pieces, intricate costumes, and lighting all pulled the “Broadway” theme together flawlessly. The dancers will also be able to take away the skills of being able to choreograph and put on a show and apply it to their own lives.
“All the time cleaning and rehearsing and preparing for the show is just all coming together. It was beyond my expectation and they did such a great job. I am so, so proud of them,” Hofstetter said.