Showtime
by Jillian Surla, editor-in-chief
FAIRHOPE, Ala. — From November 12-14, the Fairhope Dance Collective presented their fall showcase, titled “Escapade,” in the Black Box Theatre. After months of preparation, they danced the night away showcasing their talent through a variety of dance genres.
The song choices for this show ranged from pop musical hits to somber, tear-jerking ballads. The dancers reflected each song by choosing the perfect dance style, whether that be jazz, contemporary, musical theater, hip hop or classic ballet.
“I really liked the song choices because I typically don’t know them,” said Brooklyn Norris, senior dancer. “After I start dancing to them, I start actually liking them and listening to them. I feel a connection to them—so Escapade, I liked that, and Mrs. Brooke [Eubanks] liked it, so it was great.“
The production included nine different dances, with their own feel and style. The first section, “Escapade,” showed dancers dressed in pink t-shirts and jean shorts, jumping and prancing around the theater in an up-beat fashion.
“It felt like the perfect beginning,“ said Jillian Nichols, senior dancer. “We start off all happy and ecstatic to be—just moving. We skipped and paraded around like there is no tomorrow. An escapade.”
The second dance, however, brought a sense of sorrow to the stage. The change shocked the viewers, especially as they watched Nichols break down in tears midway through the performance.
“We were crying,“ Nichols said. “We’re seniors this year. It was one of our last performances, and it was sad. The song was sad, we were sad, and we expressed it in our dance. It was perfect. I loved it.”
When it came to costumes, dancers loved discussing and choosing the perfect outfit for each song and emotion. They wanted each decision to reflect their performance, and take friends and families on a journey along with them.
“So, Mrs. Brooke will talk a little bit with the seniors and she’ll typically ask about colors and how we feel about each of the outfits,” Norris said. “I feel like dancers can sort of feel colors, so she’ll ask us about that, but we mostly decide only coloring. We can give input, but the teachers really end up deciding.“
With heavy breaths and even heavier hearts, the dancers finished their last showcase on the 14th, excited to continue learning the art of motion. They wish to perfect their craft, and come back in spring with choreography better than ever.
