Every June, the Brooklyn Arts dance majors come together to perform the most anticipated showcase of the year: The Spring Dance Concert series. This annual event highlights the hard work and talent of every student in the department. The dance teachers work tirelessly to create many pieces, which the students bring to life. The performances are divided into two days: this year the sophomore and junior show will be on Friday, June 5, and the freshmen and senior show will be on Saturday, June 6. Each performance features a variety of dance styles and genres, all guided by Brooklyn Arts dance teachers Mr. Varvaro and Ms. Smith, along with several guest choreographers. 

This year, the sophomores had the amazing opportunity of working with guest choreographers Jeremy Pichardo and Kemmii. Jeremy Pichardo has been choreographing for about eight years, and specializes in Hip Hop and Contemporary.  When asked about his inspiration for creating a piece for the sophomores, he explained that it was designed to allow them to express their individuality while still performing as a collective group. As Jeremy describes, “When I heard the song, I wanted all of them to have fun.” He hopes this experience will also transfer to the audience. He shares that our sophomores have high energy and are always eager to be challenged. Kemmii, a BHSA alumni, has been choreographing for about nine years, specializing in Modern and Hip Hop. The piece he has created for the sophomores emphasizes the symbolism of spring, representing joy and the beauty of blossoms. He states that he would like the audience to be filled with happiness and resonate with the grooviness of the dance. He shares that working with the sophomores has been a process; teaching them something new has brought challenges, but also opportunities to improve. I also spoke to Mr. Varvaro about the sophomore pieces he choreographed. He described these pieces as a representation of old modern dances in order to pay homage to his dance mentors and teachers.

Every year, the junior dance majors choreograph their own small group dances, with a select few being featured in the Spring Dance Concert. This year, the pieces are inspired by other art forms, all centered around the theme “Echoes of Creation: Art Inspires Art.” One junior dancer explained that working in a group can be challenging because it requires compromise and careful thought to avoid making the piece too literal or overly theatrical. Another dancer shared that even though it’s “a lot of stress,” it is also a chance to bond and merge their creative ideas with their classmates. Through these Junior Projects, dancers are able to express their deeper ideas through movement. Some pieces reflect themes such as “The Tell-Tale Heart” which illustrates emotions such as guilt and psychological tension. Another, entitled “Her Silence,” represents the silencing of women, expressing restriction and rebellion through movement. The Junior Projects allow students to grow as artists, using their techniques to convey intricate emotions and ideas in creative ways. After speaking with Mr. Varvaro, I learned that it is a tradition for juniors and sophomores to perform in the same show in order to demonstrate their growth.

The freshmen and senior show will include diverse styles and emotions, with each dance reflecting the unique artistic signature of the guest choreographer or teacher’s style. This show highlights the seniors’ growth and journey throughout their high school years while celebrating the new beginning of the freshmen. The two freshmen classes are dancing as one, and taking on a high-energy jazz piece inspired by the vibrant style of the 1990’s as well as a modern piece showcasing their technical abilities. These dances were created by Mr. Varvaro and Ms. Smith. I spoke with several freshmen dancers, and one said this piece has brought them together as they help each other grow. Another describes their liking of their dance in the opening phrase, where they all hit one pose, creating a sense of suspension that makes them feel more connected as a group. 

The senior classes have been working on numerous group pieces choreographed by Ms. Smith and guest choreographers Alrick Thomas, Kemmii, and Adrienne Hurd. Additionally, the senior classes will be coming together to perform a piece called “Asylum,” originally choreographed by Ian DaSilva, and which has been reset by Ms. Smith. Ms. Smith said she was inspired by the music; her pieces are abstract visuals of the music composition. She lets the dancers interpret the emotions of the choreography and music to transfer it to the audience. Ms. Smith also said that the audience should “leave with questions and answers,” spanning every emotion and experiencing their raw feelings. This year’s senior pieces each have a unique movement quality and style that shows how diverse the seniors are as dancers. Throughout the year, the seniors have also choreographed their own solos, and a select group of these solos have been picked by Ms. Smith to be featured in the show. These solos show each dancer’s artistic voice, adding texture and layers of different emotions and themes, complementing other pieces. Ms. Smith noted that she has seen a growth of confidence and maturity among the seniors over the course of their high school careers.

​ Finally, the seniors and freshmen will perform together in a West African piece choreographed by Shaneeka Nicholson. This piece holds an important tradition within the dance department, as it includes the “passing down the belt,” symbolizing unity, growth, and carrying the dance department forward.

In the end, the Brooklyn Arts Dance Showcase isn’t just a performance, it is a celebration of community. These shows reflect the hard work of the students, teachers, and guest choreographers, and the bonding that comes from this shared artistic enterprise. With a full span of emotions, styles, creativity, and tradition, the Dance Showcase embodies diversity and inclusion.  Don’t miss the shows on June 5 and June 6!