Photos by Zach Le
A completely student-led Dance In Flight takes the stage tonight as they kick off another year with performances beginning at 8 p.m. and will continue through Saturday evening.
Dance In Flight’s future was unsure when the previous directors of the show left. However, DIF student director Melinda Marchiano and the other student choreographers came together to bring Dance In Flight to the stage this year.
From choreography to music and transition videos, the students this year had the chance to show off their talent and make the show truly their own as they expressed stories about their theme, the human experience.
“It’s all student done, which is amazing,” junior and student choreographer Sarah Jane Souther said. “I think it really adds to the show because there’s so much talent on Pepperdine’s campus, and I think it’s really helped us all feel a connection to the show.”
Souther has been dancing since she was 4 years old, and helped choreograph contemporary ballet pieces while also dancing in three other pieces.
Once the lights turned down, bright twinkling lights shined while a video screen dropped down to display one of the many transition videos (made by cast member David Hutchinson) that were played throughout the show. The first one in particular set the tone for the show to come. With poetry and words spoken by senior and writer Katrina Warne.
“It’s kind of my thing,” Warne said. “The poetry actually comes from the book I published this year. We’ll actually be selling them at the performances for DIF. It’s been exciting, but it was a struggle.”
The show begins with an emotional solo performance given by Marchiano, who is then joined by other cast members. Together with the words by Warne, each performance hits the audience with universal emotions. With a vast array of dance styles and contemporary routines that are catchy and refreshing, this year’s Dance In Flight holds you tight throughout the performance and embraces you from the time the curtain goes up through its final number.
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