Fata Morgana, GDS’ student-run dance company, performed three shows from Wednesday, Jan. 10 through Friday, Jan. 12. The theme of this year’s opening act, selected by co-heads and seniors Zoe Ferguson and Avery Brown, was different eras of dance.
The show, announced in an all-school email by Fata’s faculty advisor and GDS dance and acting teacher Maria Watson in early January, began with short opening dances performed by different groups in the company. A performance by all members of the company followed the opening routine.
On Jan. 9, the day before the first show, GDS canceled all after-school activities, including Fata’s dress rehearsal, due to snow. The dancers instead did a final run-through of the show the night of their first performance. Watson said the canceled rehearsal did not affect the show. “We didn’t really miss a beat. They were great,” she said.
Members of the group were excited about the varying styles and songs in the performance. “I love the opening,” dancer Ava Hall said. “I think it is really cool, and it’s something we haven’t seen before.” Songs in the opening spanned from the 1940s to the 2000s.
Following the opening, the company performed two longer acts, each with six pieces. All of the dances were student-choreographed except for one which was designed by Dianne Montgomery at Capitol Tap. Pieces covered a variety of styles, including tap, jazz and hip-hop. The dances ranged from solos to eight-person performances.
According to senior Anna Belber, who performed in and choreographed parts of the show, the company, which is open to every GDS student, has grown significantly over the past few years. “Seeing it grow in numbers, but also the diversity of styles has been really cool,” Belber said.
Hall and Belber also noted the influx of freshmen to the club this year. As new members join, Belber is excited about the possibilities for new types of performances in the show. “Finding out that there are so many new tap dancers in the freshman class was just super exciting,” Belber added.
“Everyone was really having fun,” said junior Sadie Boyle, who attended the show. “The atmosphere was really creative.”
Ferguson told the Bit that the audience, filled with family, students and faculty members, was encouraged to cheer on the dancers, in order to create a fun and energetic environment. “There’s an element of school spirit attached to it that makes the cheering intrinsic to the whole thing,” Ferguson said.
At the end of the show, the dancers came onstage together again to perform a closing piece. The ending performance was a callback to the opening piece with similar music and choreography.