The Winter Showcase

To the people blessed with the talent, dance is a way to express what cannot be said with words. During the last week before CAPA releases the students for winter break, the dance department presents their annual winter showcase. It features performing annual Nutcracker-themed routines. Unlike the Spring Showcase, which has a new theme every year, the Winter one’s staple is the Nutcracker.

On the way to class during the days before December 18, it isn’t rare to bump into dancers as they rush to rehearsal, barefoot. During the last week before winter break, dancers are pulled out of classes all day to rehearse and perfect their routines. This year the shows fall on December 18, 19, and 20th at 6pm. Fortunately, the Friday before “Hell Week,” as it's referred to, I’m lucky enough to interview a sophomore dancer on how she feels about the upcoming, dreadful time and her thoughts on this year’s performance. 

“So, every grade has three dancers including jazz, modern, and…ballet,” (Ting Handy, a Sophomore Dancer). “I’m kind of excited for ‘Hell Week’. I like the dances this year, and um… the atmosphere is really nice, having all the dancers hype you up. But, I feel like my body isn’t physically ready for it,” she finishes with a laugh. Handy branches off from the routine aspect to voice her distaste for the adjusted schedule. Dancers have to stay till 3:00 p.m, while everyone else releases at 12:04 p.m. which adds a lot of tension between the already divided majors. “We can order food, though…which is good, but not until everyone else leaves at 12.” 

During “Hell Week,” my English teacher hears about my dilemma, needing to interview dancers and she catches two as they race through the halls in bright red leotards. 

Camrynn Poole, a Sophomore dance minor, tells me how important this showcase is to her department. “You get to show off your creativity and express yourself through, like, the common story of the Birth of Jesus, I mean even if you don’t follow that religion… you still get to show off your talent and I think that’s the best part. Everybody gets to show off their talents and what they bring to the table.” 

Poole takes her time explaining the showcase layout. She states how the dance starts with the Nutcracker. Then, the Spanish variation, a Chinese dance and lastly Arabian To finish off the first half, dances range from dolls and soldiers, then the Snow Queen. Following this is a Gospel set, which is the Birth of Jesus, Joy to the World, and Silent Night. After this, are the “regular classes,” as Poole puts it, saying lastly jazz, ballet, and modern. I turn to Taylor Pendleton, a Sophomore dancer, and ask her the take she has on the showcase. She notes there have been a few changes in the dances throughout rehearsal, as guest dance teachers haven’t been able to make it to class. Our interview is cut short by the bell, and I wish them good luck as their bare feet hurriedly tap along the tile floor back to the theatre.