Wheeling Orchesis selected for national show

Wheeling High School Orchesis has been chosen to perform in the Student Choreography Showcase performance at the 1,600-seat Gusman Theatre in Miami, Fla., for the National High School Dance Festival March 19.

The work, "A Subtle Execution," was choreographed by students Megan Donisch, Rachael Fromkin and Janice Gebhardt. Wheeling dancers who will perform are Libby Fisher, Samantha Nielsen, Julia O'Brian, Jerry Rivera, Jon Tracey and Samantha Victor.

Performance of an additional work, "Statement in the Middle," choreographed by Scott Bartell of Spectrum Dance Theatre in Seattle, is still pending performance on a different festival concert, based on space availability.

Dancers in "Statement in the Middle" are Donisch, Fromkin, Gebhardt, Rivera, Tracey, Jenny Belcher, Danielle Bitout, Maegan Draka, Katie Kalmes, Andrea Lapsy and Andrea Novak.

Both works premiered as part of the Dance Chicago programming in November 2009.

One hundred forty-three dances were auditioned from the United States, Canada, and Australia for the biannual festival; between 10-12 were chosen for the Student Choreography Showcase.

Student choreographers will be interviewed at the festival by the six-person selection committee with the top three student pieces receiving awards.

Nearly all the schools participating in the festival are magnet or fine arts schools.

More than 1,500 students will attend the festival March 18-21 at the New World School of the Arts in Miami. Students will attend concerts, workshops and seminars conducted by professional dancers, college professors and respected professionals.

This is the second time Wheeling's Orchesis will attend the festival and perform in one of the main concerts. In 2008 Wheeling was the only public, non-magnet school on the closing night gala.

Wheeling Orchesis Director Diane Rawlinson and Orchesis assistant Crystal Ellis-Abdullah have both been selected to be part of the festival faculty.