Naperville North Orchesis aims to make 'Lasting Impressions'
With Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" reverberating through the rehearsal space, nearly 70 dancers moved in unison, following the student dance captain's commands.
It was late January and the Orchesis Dance Troupe was preparing for the club's annual dance show. Faculty advisers looked on, along with student photographers and stage crew, as the dancers refined their moves for the show, titled "Lasting Impressions."
"It's about iconic people, musical times, memories," adviser Laurie Faryan said. "We've got 22 dances. They've been practicing since September."
Performances begin at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 10 and 11, in the Performing Arts Center at the school, 899 N. Mill St., Naperville.
Faryan said the show will feature a mix of Michael Jackson tunes and a few pieces choreographed in the style of Broadway choreographer Bob Fosse of "All That Jazz" fame.
This year's show also will present dances from "Singin' in the Rain."
"It's a tribute to that era and, now especially, to Debbie Reynolds," Faryan said.
Audiences will see jazz, modern, hip-hop, lyrical dance and tap, with some advanced couples dance steps, including a lift dance, she said.
The troupe has only one boy, so 16 boys from outside of the troupe, including several athletes, will dance in a few numbers, including the lift and swing numbers, said science teacher Katie Hoffmann, a faculty adviser.
"Many different professional choreographers came in at the beginning of the season for a three-day workshop on lyrical, jazz and hip-hop, as well as to teach the closer dance," Hoffmann said.
Orchesis is a dance club that has chapters at schools throughout the area.
"It is for any student interested in dancing. We have a variety of ability levels," Hoffmann said. "It's primarily student run. We have a lot of student leaders."
Faryan, who is retiring at the end of this school year, launched the Naperville North Orchesis three years after she began teaching and serving as a cheerleading sponsor.
"I started it in 1984," she said. "They didn't have a dance group. I have a dance minor."
Faryan said the club started out with about 20 or 30 members. At its peak, about four years ago, there were 130 dancers. Currently, the club has 73 members. Membership fluctuates based on the size of student population, she said.
"We're one of the only Orchesis troupes that is 'no cuts.' They don't have to audition for placement," Faryan said.
After she retires, Faryan said she expects to come back, at least during tech week next year, as a consultant.
"I'm going to miss it very much," she said. "I tell the seniors, 'It's my senior year, too.' It's mixed feelings."
Freshman Brigid Simek said she has been dancing since she was 3 years old.
"My older sister did Orchesis. We're both dancers," she said.
Her favorite number in the upcoming show is a Michael Jackson song, "Love Never Felt So Good."
"It's one of the few tap numbers and that's my favorite style of dance," she said.
Simek said the Orchesis troupe is a close-knit group.
"We're all just so connected. We spend a lot of time together. It's like a family," she said.
Maddy Thorne, a senior, is vice president of the troupe.
"I've been involved in dance my entire childhood," Thorne said. "You can express your love for dance (in Orchesis) without being competitive about it. It's just having fun dancing your heart out. I've met so many people through this, so many important friendships in my life."
If you go
What: Naperville North High School Orchesis Dance Troupe's "Lasting Impressions"
When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 10 and 11
Where: Naperville North High School Performing Arts Center, 899 N. Mill St., Naperville
Tickets: $7 for adults, $5 for students and seniors; available at naperville203.tix.com
Info: naperville203.org/nnhs