By Nancy Dahal ‘28
With the end of the school year, the dedication of the Sem Dance Company has come to a finale with their spring performance. Ballet to Broadway, presented on May 9th and 11th, provided the student body with a transformative production on the KCCA stage. From the elegance of La Bayadere, to the energy of Ease on Down the Road and the enthralling effect of A Chorus Line, the industry of the dancers and directors involved became evident as soon as the spotlight came on opening night.
Composed of twenty-six dancers, Ballet to Broadway delivered a creative blend of genres and pieces that left the audience starstruck. Out of those twenty-six dancers included were alumni Brennan Twardowski, Activities Director and Assistant Director of the Dance Program ‘10 and Robert Zaloga ‘20 who devoted their time both instructing students and dancing alongside them.
Other faculty members and Lower School student, Gigi Ruderman ‘29, contributed to the performance as well, notably in the dance titled It’s Your Wedding Day in which Upper School Faculty appeared in a line dance among students. All of this was made possible by Bernadine Vojtko’s commitment to the company and her dancers. In regards to her experience in the Sem Dance Company, Aniella Gabello-Timinski ‘26 said, “My experience dancing here has been memorable. I came in as a freshman and was instantly welcomed into the community. Throughout the past 3 years, I have grown both as a person and a dancer, even earning myself a solo this year. This year’s Broadway themed performance surely has brought in a bunch of people of all experiences”
As well as determined work of the faculty, many students had a hand in bringing the performance to life. The Choreographer’s Workshop has contributed incredible pieces to an already astounding performance. The six dancers involved in the Choreographer’s Workshop: Abby Lott ‘25, Reece Fisher ‘25, Aniella Gabello-Timinski ‘26, Aubrey Fisher ‘27, Karolina Harvanova ‘27, and Melina Ospina-Wiese ‘27 have devoted much of their time preparing for this performance and have inspired many other students as a result. Reece Fisher ‘25 described her experience choreographing for Ballet to Broadway as such, “My experience choreographing here has helped me expand my knowledge of dance as well as learn how to create a piece that highlights each dancer’s ability”
The forty-fourth annual dance show was a tribute to the time of the students, choreographers, and teachers involved and acted as a testament to the hard work Mrs. Votjko and her dancers have been in the company for decades. It is fantastic that The Sem Dance Company will continue to provide such performances for years to come and we all await what they have to offer next season.