Viveca Stucke ‘26
Chief Features Editor
On Friday April 11, 2025, the Holy Cross Dance Ensemble lit up the stage with its much anticipated Spring Show, showcasing 23 remarkable pieces choreographed and performed entirely by Holy Cross students. The program included a beautiful array of dance styles like jazz, contemporary, Irish step, hip hop, ballet, musical theatre, tap, modern, and lyrical, highlighting the incredible versatility and talent within the ensemble.
Students from every class year participated, with a special spotlight on the senior dances who were performing their last show at Holy Cross, Meghan Anderson, Shane Bridges, Avery Byrne, Carolyn Calegari, Brianna Fountain, Sheila Hulseman, Myra Mayn, Molly McCracken, Mairead O’Hara, Emilee Rorick, Lauren Ross, Isabella Ruel, Megan Teixiera, and Via Wahl.
The show opened with a high energy jazz number to Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl by Chappell Roan, choreographed by senior Brianna Fountain, which instantly electrified the crowd. The strong and exciting energy continued on throughout the evening with a perfectly crafted playlist that featured hits like New Romantics by Taylor Swift, Beauty and a Beat by Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj, The Winner Takes it All by Meryl Streep, and Supercut by Lorde.
The performance concluded on a very heartfelt note with You’ll Always Find Your Way Back Home by Hannah Montana, which was choreographed by Co-Chairs Isabella Ruel ‘25 and Molly Hachey ‘26. This final piece featured all of the dancers of the Ensemble, which left the crowd with a reminder of the passion and community at the heart of their show.
Preparing for this type of show requires immense dedication and effort. Meredith McDonough ‘26, a member of the Dance Ensemble, shared insight into the process, commenting that “Each style engages in weekly practices to perfect our routines. We all work tirelessly to achieve greatness for our audiences which has been incredibly rewarding”. Balancing academics with rigorous rehearsals, there is a lot of pressure on the dancers, especially those who are also choreographers, as they engage in countless hours of refining their techniques, growing as performers, and crafting shows that are full of energy. Due to this, their show is always something that is a highlight of the semester.
Beyond the stage, the Dance Ensemble offers something that is just as meaningful, a community. “It has been so much fun getting to bond with everyone by working together to perfect the cleanest possible routines! I have truly found such a sense of camaraderie amidst members of the Dance Ensemble, which I appreciate!” McDonough added. This shared passion and teamwork has helped to forge strong connections with the dancers, further enriching their college experience. McDonough also reflected, explaining that “Dance Ensemble has been a highlight of my time at Holy Cross. It is incredibly empowering to be part of a community that uplifts one another on and off the dance floor!”
During the stress of homework, classwork piling up, and the looming feeling of the end of the semester, events like the Dance Ensemble’s Spring Show serve as a powerful reminder of the value of the arts and the creativity that lives on our campus. The performance highlighted how the dedication and hard work of Holy Cross students extends past their academics and into their passions as well. Through extracurriculars like Dance Ensemble, students can use their energy and talent for activities that can enrich their own lives as well as the larger campus community. Seeing peers perform with this level of talent is not just inspiring, but it shows the strength of excellence that defines students at Holy Cross. The Spring Show was not just fulfilling, it was a joyful experience that left the audience in awe of the dancers and their efforts while on stage.
Featured image courtesy of @hcdanceensemble on Instagram
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