Caroline Kramer ‘26
Staff Writer
On Friday, April 12, the Holy Cross Dance Ensemble illuminated the stage of the Luth Concert Hall with their highly-anticipated spring performance. Composed of students across all four grades, this talented group performed 25 numbers across a vast range of styles, including jazz, tap, lyric, contemporary, modern, ballet, hip-hop, Irish step, and musical theater. The dance numbers were entirely choreographed by the students themselves, and it was no surprise that they were performing for a sold-out show. Their showcase featured a perfect balance of upbeat numbers, like “SOS,” “Texas Hold ‘Em,” and their Beatlemania mash-up, in addition to beautiful slower numbers, like “End of Beginning,” “Growing Pains,” and “See You Again.” Each class year got their own number as well to commemorate the friendships they’ve formed within their grades. The 17 senior dancers from the Class of 2024 had their own bittersweet High School Musical number in honor of their upcoming graduation and their commitment to Dance Ensemble since the start of their Holy Cross careers.
Although the show got pushed up by two and a half weeks from the original performance date, this time restriction did not stop the team from putting on an incredible show that had the audience cheering, hollering, and even tearing up. Liz Schmidt ‘26 speaks fondly of her fellow dancers and the bond they share, especially when it comes to the immense support they show one another throughout the rehearsal process. “It’s all very collaborative,” she says. “Everyone really wants to be there, and everyone is so passionate. It’s a great dynamic, because everyone wants to step up where they can.” Liz went on to share how one of the student choreographers had to step out unexpectedly for medical reasons within a week of the show, and Liz was therefore appointed to finish choreographing her dance. “Even though I had technically taken on the leadership position,” she reflects, “so many girls stepped up to the plate to help. Everyone cares about each other so much, and people were enthusiastically sending videos to [the choreographer] to show our progress on the dance so that she didn’t have to worry about it getting done.” It is inspiring to see how the friendship and camaraderie among the Dance Ensemble is just as strong off the stage as it is onstage — their irrevocable dedication to one another translates beautifully to their work, for it is very apparent among their smiling faces and high energy that they love what they do and who they do it with.
“The most impressive part to me is that it’s all student-run,” Liz shares as a concluding remark. “Our senior and junior co-chairs, Annie Clark and Isabella Ruel, organize everything from running rehearsals to getting the spaces booked. It’s people you have class with essentially being your teacher, and that can’t really work unless you care about what you’re doing and take it seriously. Because we all love dance and each other so much, we have a really strong group and a really strong bond.”
This was the Dance Ensemble’s second and final performance of the semester, following their benefit showcase at the end of February. These girls are not only wildly talented in their craft, but are also dedicated to giving back to the Worcester community. The ticket sales from their winter show went directly toward Working for Worcester, and on the morning following their spring show, they participated in Build Day as a team at Tatnuck Magnet School. A big congratulations to the Dance Ensemble for their extraordinary work!
Copy Edited by Caroline Kramer
The Spire 