WDA Spring Dance Show 2014

I have given up on trying to understand audiences. Sometimes you just have no idea what they're going to react to.

I was really excited for today. I loved all the dances I was in, and knew that this had the potential to be one of the best dance shows ever.  The only dance I was a little worried for was Nothing for Nothing, just because I was still getting the hang of it, but I wasn't terribly nervous. Just anxious.

The first show went very well. Putting on the Ritz was a little bit of a case of "How many times can you screw up and have nobody notice?", but it got a very good reception. I actually did Nothing for Nothing decently.  99 Potcakes was good from what I could see. And the finale seemed to get people involved extremely well.  It got a good reception from the audience, and we all left the stage satisfied.

Between shows, everybody went to Panera Bread for lunch, and then we came back for warmups. This time I was nervous. It was going to be my last WDA spring dance show.  Then, while we were stretching onstage, I made the mistake of saying the name of the Scottish Shakespeare play. That didn't help my nerves.

I think what calmed me down was watching Those Were the Days and Swing Break do their dances the best they had ever done them.  The crowd was into it, and then it was time to go on for Putting on the Ritz.  And I nailed it. Twice, the audience started applauding in the middle of the number, and at the end I actually ended up taking two bows. I felt really good about it, probably the best it's ever been, and was glad it got a good reception.

Nothing for Nothing and Potcakes both went very well. In general, the crowd was extremely energized, and got into all of the dances. The finale was a little emotional, but I was able to channel the energy. The audience started clapping along near the end, which I would never have predicted could have happened in that dance.  At the end, I got a book from Miss B and Miss L, signed, and my own bow. The audience was crazy. When the curtain closed, I exchanged hugs with my class.

Being the only senior was hard. It did get me a lot of attention, but it's also knowing that dance will go on without me. It's quite a different feeling from musical, where a lot of us are leaving, and you know that if you came back anyway it wouldn't be the same. Here, I truly feel like I'm leaving everyone behind.

I didn't cry at the musical cast party.  That was a four year experience, and three months out of those years. This was eight years, nine months a year.  I don't think it's even a tough comparison.  Although I can't say the friendships are as strong, I do feel like I've gotten to know everyone.

I do have one more week of class, though I'm going to miss Monday for the orchestra concert. The goodbyes are still to come.  But today was still a great day. And an important one.

-NM