On Tuesday, May 16, 2023, Explore Middle School’s sixth graders saw Through Our Eyes, a show completely created by members of High Tech Dance’s Choreography track. The show explored themes of culture, community, human connection, and a variety of emotions. Produced by Seniors in the Choreography track, the show incorporated light design, costumes, and a variety of dance elements that led to an interactive and engaging show.

The show was created as an ongoing showcase of movement. Not only was movement showcased without significant breaks, but the dancers/choreographers introduced the piece while on stage and were an active part of the performance. The overall format of the show drew the audience and created a more seamless experience. It also connected the pieces and emphasized the theme of the entire show, not just the individual piece. 

This format was really emphasized by the light design of the show, which not only incorporated a variety of colors, spotlights, and multiple lights at once but also incorporated shadow. The design added to the performance and created not only a more seamless experience but an experience that was captivating and stole the attention of the audience. The light design enhanced the already amazing dancing and choreography. In addition to light design, the costumes, which followed a series of similar themes and color schemes, glued together all of the pieces. The costumes, which were mostly constant, helped focus the audience on the core themes of the performance: telling a story through each dancer’s perspective. 

The content of the show itself incorporated a variety of dance styles and aspects across creative expression. The show had dialogue, a singing moment, and continued incorporation of voice. It was more than just dance steps, it was cohesive art. Not only was it art, but it was also art that cultivated genuine joy in the audience and seemingly in the dancers themselves. The styles included hip-hop, contemporary, tap, modern, and lyrical, and also had a variety of music styles incorporated as well. The audience seemed to particularly enjoy the hip-hop and tap pieces. 

The choreography and production showed a masterful understanding of dance and choreographic elements, as well as emotional expression. The movement of every piece conveyed the emotion, whether it be sadness, joy, love, etc, in a way where the audience could easily understand and connect with the emotion at the core of the movement. As a future choreography student in this program, I am personally excited to work with many of the performers and choreographers showcased and to join the program itself. 

My fellow future choreography student Laila Brown shared my sentiment, saying, “Through my eyes showcased both the technical ability and creativity that makes us excited to be choreography students in the upcoming years.” 

Overall, every performer and choreographer should be proud of their work towards Through Our Eyes. It was not only enjoyable to watch but also spoke to the audience in ways that few showcases do. It shows a lot of promise for the future of dance and choreography at High Tech.