The official Hopkins dance team, the Ladybirds, performed their annual spring showcase on Friday for an enthusiastic audience.
With high energy from start to finish, the dancers put on piece after piece, displaying dazzling technique, stage presence and a variety of styles.
The program opened with “Le Jazz Hot,” choreographed by senior Jean Smith and the team.
The piece opened in silhouette lighting against an orange background, creating a pleasant, beach-sunset atmosphere.
The dancers progressed effortlessly from jazz to a short, but very well-executed tap number, and later returned to jazz, perfectly rounding out the piece and giving it a cyclical feel.
Freshman Colleen McDermott tested the strength and stamina of her dancers in her contemporary piece “Disillusionment.”
Music by Full Circle and the simple white costumes allowed the audience to fully focus on the dynamic choreography and athleticism the dance required.
“Seven Nation Army,” choreographed by freshman Ally Tanzola, was one of the highlights of the show.
The piece required sharp and accurate movement and a copious amount of sassiness, and boy did they deliver on both counts.
The change in lighting, from a shadowy twilight to a seemingly misty dawn, was quite effective and complementary to the dancers.
Sophomore Sara Hussey’s lyrical piece, “The Dog Days are Over,” while providing a refreshing contrast to the upbeat styles of jazz, tap and hip hop, was no less energetic.
The dancers highlighted their fabulous extensions and advanced technique with a series of clean fouette turns while wearing sweet, pastel-colored dresses.
The undeniable crowd-pleaser of the night was “Cell Block Tango,” set to music from Chicago and choreographed by “the six merry murderesses of the Cook County jail,” as written in the program. Pop, Six, Squish, Uh-Uh, Cicero and Lipscitz excelled in their solos and ensemble work.
Highlights were Pop’s straddle leap and Cicero’s array of acrobatics.
However, the final chorus after all the intensity of the solos was muddled and inexact, as if the dancers had temporarily run out of steam.
Ending the piece on a strong note was the final bit of lighting: a pop of red extinguished immediately and brilliantly unexpected like a gunshot.
Following “Cell Block Tango” was a beautifully touching duet by Hopkins alumni Amber-Leigh Tyler and Smith.
The emotion in their faces was evident, as was the passion in their lyrical movement.
In “King of Anything,” Smith employed a creative use of props as the centerfold of the piece.
Coffee tables and chairs assembled around the stage and utilized by the dancers, who were donned in varied sundresses, provided a light atmosphere complementary to the upbeat tempo of the music, yet directly contrasting with the bitter song lyrics.
Nonetheless, the charming ambience far outweighed the lyrics, resulting in a performance both delightful and inventive.
Junior Stephanie Curtin’s “Forget You” melded funk, jazz and gold spandex shorts and matching headbands perfectly.
The choreography demanded precision, sharpness and uniformity, which the dancers executed admirably.
Particularly impressive was the amount of clean, linear movement of the arms and legs, creating a visually spectacular scene.
Overall, the piece was very enjoyable and a lot of fun to watch.
“Firework,” choreographed by junior Monica Harris, closed the program with as much energy as the very first piece.
Noteworthy sections included the Ladybirds’ signature kick-line.
Legs were long, high and everywhere, yet the effect would’ve been even more dramatic had the kick-line lasted for a few more counts of eight.
Guest groups for the performance featured S.L.A.M. and JHU Ballet. S.L.A.M., entertaining as always, danced through a complex, multi-music piece with great energy, clarity and an innate ability to engage the audience.
JHU Ballet performed two pieces: an excerpt from “La Bayadere” and a contemporary piece set to music by Fee.
Two dancers in pink and two in blue danced the sprightly former variation, whereas the latter featured all-black costumes and a more onerous tone.
The Ladybirds spring showcase was an undeniable success, demonstrating their knowledge and range of different styles, endurance and technical expertise.
