By Catharine Runion · Community Editor
If you haven’t already seen this semester’s Orchesis show, you still have time: The remaining performances are today at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
The dance performances this year all center around the theme “metamorphosis.” Each dance represents change in some form. Sometimes this is as concrete as changing costumes, but sometimes it involves changes in mood or emotion.
Metamorphosis is somewhat of a broad term. Scientifically, it describes the changes an organism undergoes through its life cycle; however, when you remove the direct scientific connotation, the term takes on a whole life of its own.
Representing the myriad types of metamorphosis on stage are a similarly broad selection of styles. Though the dominant style is contemporary, there will be jazz, ballet and partner dancing throughout. In line with the theme, the styles will gradually be woven into each other, so the whole show will become a metamorphosis in and of itself.
There’s a lot to look forward to in the show — the long list of dances has an even longer list of choreographers and dancers involved. According to senior Student Director Emma Conrad, the diversity of this year’s performances is Orchesis’ greatest strength.
“I hope the audience enjoys the variety of the show and appreciates the sheer talent we have at Grove City College,” she said. “It is hard to believe the breadth of background every individual comes from, how they came here to study something different than dancing and still manage to put on a mature, professional and fun show,” Conrad said.
Junior Assistant Student Director Kendall Lambrecht echoes that, adding that it’s not just talent at play here: It’s hard work and a lot of determination. “We spend all semester working on one weekend of performances, and we clean them up to be some of the sharpest dances I’ve ever seen,” Lambrecht said.
She also emphasized how crucial the tech team is to a successful show. “The lighting designers and our stage managers do so much work, especially since almost all of the production team is coming from two straight weeks of tech for the musical. They truly are so amazing,” Lambrecht said.
For many of the dancers, though, metamorphosis is more than just a theme for a dance; it has come to represent their own development through Orchesis over the years.
“My position as student director has allowed me to grow in immeasurable ways,” Conrad said. “If you knew me freshman year, I was far from the same person.”
Lambrecht had a similar story. “Before Orchesis, I would have never dipped my feet into the pool of jazz, and now jazz makes up half of my dances this semester,” Lambrecht said. Ask nearly anyone participating, and you’ll hear the same thing: involvement in Orchesis is a metamorphosis in its own right.
The excellence that Orchesis pursues isn’t for ego’s sake, though, and the student directors are eager for the audience to see that. “Knowing that the heart of Orchesis is dancing for the Lord is so encouraging,” Lambrecht said.
Among the many concepts explored, there are dances about Arachne and Athena, the changing of the seasons, the evolution of jazz, “Inside Out,” falling in love, dreams and even hot coffee growing cold.
Jessica Pratt ’27 collaborated with her brother, sophomore Alexander Pratt, and fellow juniors MaryGrace Grego and Jordan Patras to choreograph a piece entitled “The Dream.” It encapsulates metamorphosis both formally and metaphorically.
“It’s supposed to portray how a peaceful and chaotic dream spirals into an unsettling nightmare,” Jessica said. The dance spans four songs and seven styles of dance, so the journey is a literal one as well as an emotional one.
“I’d say that this semester is one of the largest projects I’ve ever done,” she said. “It’s been a real challenge putting everything together. I’ve loved working with my co-choreographers, and the heads have done an amazing job putting this show together and leading everyone to make this weekend a success,” Pratt explained.
There’s something for everyone at Orchesis this semester, so make sure you get your tickets before it’s too late.
