Dance Exchange is a student-led after-school club at John F. Kennedy Memorial High School made entirely on students’ creativity as they share their love and passion for dance and their cultural backgrounds with one another.
Different genres of music such as K-pop, reggaeton, Bollywood, and hip-hop were included among the 15 dances that were performed on Thursday, April 11, at 7 p.m. The club continuously grows every year.
“When I first came here, it was very small,” Mrs. Perosi, the current advisor, shares. “Maybe there were 25 kids in it and the dances were, you know, maybe three to four kids in a dance and then each year it just started to develop.”
Prepping for the show
Starting in October, a selection of students get to audition for their choreography to be put into the performance with the assistance of Mrs. Perosi. Shortly after, sign-ups for the dances open. Dance practices are usually split into two phases that fit the choreographers’ schedule. This year, phase one consisted of nine dances and phase two consisted of eight dances. Between both phases is an intermission during the show.
Every choreographer that is chosen helps their dancers to learn the dance that they have created. After both phases are done, tech week starts. During tech week, phase one and two dances start at what’s called “cue to cues,” where the dancers get into their beginning and ending poses. After tech week, Mrs. Perosi begins run-throughs for both phases. Dress rehearsal is the day after the run-throughs where all dancers are in costume.. After dress rehearsal is performance day.
Community development & advice
As the club gains interest, there are more opportunities for other students to share their skills and learn the different dance styles within the JFK student body.
“I’d like to say that had a little bit to do with me, but I think that it has a lot to do with again, the community that JFK has defined itself as, and I’m proud of being apart of this learning community,” Mrs. Perosi states.
The JFK community is very welcoming and supports any student who would like to join Dance Exchange, whether they are trying dance for the first time or they are coming back for another year at the after-school club.
“Dance exchange is the ideal spot to do that [trying dance] because you don’t have to have any prior experience, it’s all student run,” Mrs. Perosi explains.
Even though it sounds like a lot, Mrs. Perosi reassures future dance exchange members that it’s okay to be nervous, “Know that every student, almost every student, that has crossed that stage had at one point or another been a little bit nervous about joining, and then realized ‘Oh my God, this is such a friendly environment and they’re happy that we came.’”
She also shares some wise words for those interested in joining Dance Exchange, “Don’t be afraid, embrace the unfamiliar, get uncomfortable, cause that’s when growth happens.”
