“The Wizard of Oz”, the 2019 Upper School Dance Production, will showcase the hard work of Upper School dancers starting tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. until Nov. 17. This dance showcase was choreographed by Performing Arts and Dance teachers Ms. Cheryl Laqerquist, Mrs. Deborah Flemming, Ms. Kari Jensen, and Mr. Henry Chuang. 
The dance production will run through the dance scenes from the storyline of “The Wizard of Oz” chronologically. Each scene will incorporate costumes and props that align with the plot of the play. 
For the dancers, the social atmosphere plays a crucial role in creating trust and compassion among them when performing.  “I think the audience can just tell when there’s chemistry between the cast members,” Genevieve C. (‘20), who will be playing Dorothy, said. “One thing that helps bond everyone is if you’re not afraid to make mistakes or embarrass yourself in front of others, [as the other dancers] won’t be afraid to do the same.”
As this is the last year that seniors will be participating in the high school dance production, many were excited to take on roles of leadership, but also sad that this would be their last year. “I have really tight bonds with the teachers and other dancers, so I feel like it will be a really emotional experience for me and the rest [of the dancers] as well,” Chloe Y. (‘20), who will be playing the Wicked Witch of the West, said. 
Despite this being an emotional dance production for many of the senior dancers, the choreographers ultimately want their dancers to feel proud of themselves while performing in front of the audience. “We want our dancers to feel a sense of achievement… it takes a lot to perform in front of a group of people,” said Ms. Lagerquist. 
Not only do the choreographers want the dancers to feel proud, they also hope to entertain the audience by incorporating storytelling through dance. “[The students] aren’t just dancers, but they’re actors as well,” said Ms. Lagerquist.