When dancers from all over the state gathered in Charleston on February 28 for the Dance Festival Adjudication, Bridgeport High School Dance Ensemble stood out for more than just their impressive talent. The group was the only public-school class in the entire state who auditioned for the honor, with all other dance groups representing studios.  

 

With fewer than three months to learn and prepare their performance piece and talented teacher/choreographer Alicia Kinsey out on maternity leave, the group had to work extra hard to perfect their dance. Fortunately, Stacey Romano, the substitute choreographer, worked seamlessly with Kinsey to make the transition smooth for the girls and that professionalism ultimately was reflected in their performance.

 

Twenty-two students are in the Dance Ensemble class at Bridgeport High School. Nineteen traveled to the Charleston Cultural Center to audition for the honor of performing in the 2020 West Virginia Dance Festival in April. They performed in front of three judges, dancing to “Your Peace Will Make Us One.”  Prior to taking the stage, the ensemble warmed up with their traditional breathing exercise.  They stood in a circle, centering their thoughts and embodied their motto:  “When we breathe together, we dance together.”

 

Prior to the competition, the ensemble marked out the piece without music to get acclimated to the stage. They then brought both the chaperones and the judges to tears with their performance. Usually, dancers are notified of their audition results in a formal invitation after returning home, but the BHS Dance Ensemble heard the words they longed to hear as one judge said, “See you in April.”  Being invited on the spot was unusual and thrilling for the team, who are now anticipating their return next month.

 

Kinsey and Romano are extremely proud of the performance and the willingness of the girls to work together to make the routine so cohesive. When they take the stage in April, they will be the only high school ensemble in the festival as they perform for hundreds in the largest dance showcase in the state.  

 

Members of the competition team are: Mallory Bell, Emily Brynside, Sophia Cava, Rylee Chamberlin, Mckenna Eddy, Alexis Eliiot, Mackenzie Gould, Danielle Hart, Maggie Holstein, Tori Honaker, Abigail Jeffers, Marra Johnson, Brianna Kirsch, Samantha Olivio, Laura Pallay, Maggie Peasak, Sophia Pinti, Hope Reiser, Sofia Rubi, Sydney Snyder, Olivia Spatafore, and Shelby Whiteman.