Upper School Dancers Shine in An Evening of Dance

The Upper School’s An Evening of Dance, held on Friday, April 4, and Saturday, April 5, brought artistry, energy, and bold expression to the stage as the Dance Ensemble and the Chamber Dancers presented a dynamic and moving program, highlighting both faculty and student choreography.

Indigo Daniels ’28, Annalise Garrido ’28, Cooper Grogan ’26, Lauren Herman ’26, Ella Kerins ’28, and Avery Sinclair ’26 make up the Chamber Dancers. Dance Ensemble members are Amalia Benke ’27, Karina Bhatia ’28, Jane Cepeda ’26, Charlotte Forde ’27, Libby Franklin ’26, Olivia Peters ’26, Mariana Pirez Ramirez ’26, Kimberly Pritchett ’26, and Jocelyn Wang ’27.

Under the artistic direction of Amanda Hudson, Upper School Dance teacher, the evening opened with That Big Red Thing in the Corner, a modern piece set to music by Courtney Bryan and performed by all the dancers. The Dance Ensemble shined in its performance of Isn’t She Lovely (Stevie Wonder), and the Chamber Dancers performed Valerie (Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson). Untitled., a stirring ensemble piece set to music by Fatoumata Diawara, was performed by both groups of dancers before a brief intermission.

Between performances, student speakers Julianna Abrantes ’26 and Cecília Hirawat ’26 brought thoughtful reflections about dance and the human experience: “Dance serves as a means of communication and expression that can move through time and language barriers. It exists in every culture, acting as a way to express identity and heritage. Dance fosters a sense of community and belonging as people come together through movement to create something bigger than themselves. It is an expression of freedom and release, as it allows everyone to let go and move however they want.”

The second half of the evening showcased student choreography, beginning with After Dark (the Beatles), which was choreographed by Libby, Olivia, and Mariana and performed by Amalia, Jane, Charlotte, Libby, Olivia, and Kimberly. Vienna (Billy Joel) was choreographed by Cooper, Lauren, and Avery and performed by Indigo, Lauren, and Ella. Hold Back the River (the Lumineers) was choreographed by Jane and Kimberly and performed by Amalia, Karina, Charlotte, Libby, and Olivia.

The program concluded with Preach, a moving piece performed by all dancers to music by John Legend, with choreography by Ms. Hudson.

“This year’s performance was incredibly special as the Dance Ensemble and the Chamber Dancers performed alongside one another for the first time,” says Ms. Hudson. “It was an incredibly special experience to bring together both groups and create choreography that unified the two ensembles while also celebrating their growth, talent, and artistry.”

Students behind the scenes supporting the performers were stage managers Kaitlin Andersen ’26 and Mia Ramos ’26; light board operator Gracen Hill ’27; and backstage crew Julianna Abrantes ’26, Cecília Hirawat ’26, and Allie Weil ’27. Colette Gentile ’25 provided headshot photography.