About Orchesis

Orchesis is an audition based dance company that meets as a class and after school activity.  This past year it was comprised of 40 members ranging from freshmen to seniors.  Orchesis performs numerous times throughout the year, including the Homecoming Pep Assembly and Game, Basketball Games, with the highlight being our annual concert in February.  Additional student-choreographed performances include our Annual Holiday Showcase in the black box theatre, featuring several student-choreographed holiday pieces.  In previous years we have performed at Chicago Bulls games and we were also selected to perform in Disney World in 2020, 2023, 2025!  We are also very proud that Hersey Orchesis has been selected for State 6 times in the past 7 years! ('17, '19, '20, '21, '22, '23, '24, '25)

While Orchesis dancers most often create and perform student-choreographed work, throughout our season the company members have multiple opportunities to learn from guest artists.  These professionals set choreography and teach master classes, exposing the dancers to various forms of dance.  Dancers are exposed to a variety of styles through Orchesis including, but not limited to, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, and ballet.  Each year we participate in the District 214 Artist in Residence project, performing original choreography from a selected choreographer, with our fellow D214 Orchesis Companies.  For the past 12 years we have been honored to perform at Barrington High School in the Giordano Choreography Project.  The Project allows for several area dance companies to work with different Giordano dancers for a few months.  The original works are performed at the annual concert.  

Orchesis also partners with our CLS program thoughout the year with our Dynamite Dancers program.  Orchesis dancers spend time sharing their love of dance with D214 CLS students and they perform together at selected events.   

Audition Information

DATES

Monday, March 16th

• Audition Meeting, 4:30pm, 124 B/C

Day 1 - Tuesday, April 14

• Clinic, 4:30pm - 7:30pm, Dance Room

Day 2 - Wednesday, April 15

• Clinic, 4:30pm - 7:30pm, Dance Room

Day 3 - Thursday, April 16

• Audition time slots start at 4:30pm (a time slot and group will be assigned to you), Dance Room 

COMPONENTS

Application 

• https://forms.gle/tSUBkf3zdenWtxccA

• Please answer the questions in the Google Form with complete sentences and as much detail as possible.  

Pirouettes

• Parallel Pirouettes, Right & Left, Double or Triple

• Turned Out Pirouettes, Right & Left, Double or Triple

Turns across the floor

• Pique turns, chainee turns

Jumps across the floor

• Jump Combination on the Right & Left

• Examples of jumps we may require: Calypso, Switch Leap, Saute Chat, Jete, Center Leap

Contemporary Jazz Combo

Lyrical Combo

• Skills that may be included in combos: Battements, tilt jumps, firebird jumps, surprise leap, floor work, fan kicks

ORCHESIS INFORMATION PACKET

Audition Application

Will be posted after March 16th, 2026

DUE APRIL 10th!

Contact Information

Christine Widell, Hersey Dance Director

christine.widell@d214.org