Dance Like Everyone Is Watching
Written By Daisy Willis
UH Hilo Performing Artʻs showcases Great Leaps, a dance concert featuring UH Hilo and Hawaii Community College students. Photo found online at, http://hilo.hawaii.edu/news/view/10689.
Here at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, we are proud to showcase the dancers who have trained hard all semester for the chance to show off their new skills in front of an eager audience. Great Leaps is one the the University's most popular shows, bringing in students from all over campus to enjoy the talent of their friends and peers as they dance their hearts out on stage. This semester, students will have two chances to see the show. A special preview showing will take place on Friday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m., followed by the regular performance on Saturday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. featuring over 150 dancers from UH Hilo and Hawaii Community College performing original choreography.
Two students spoke about their experiences in Great Leaps over the years. Zachary Tman, a Senior performing for his ninth time in Great Leaps stated, “[The skills I have learned in class have helped me because] most people say it takes the technique and the attitude to pull it off. I think that's part of it, but most of it would be just how accepting you are of yourself. I mean, you have to accept your own strengths and weaknesses in dance, acknowledge them, and work to improve. Skills come naturally after. The only reason I've improved my dance skills/vocab is because I've seen what my weaknesses are and I'm trying to work on them. And improving on them has helped me be more confident as a performer.” Zachary will be performing his senior dance project, an aerial piece that communicates the importance of friendship through bullying as a child.
Zachary pulls off a daring dance move in class. Photo provided by Zachary Tman.
Jenna Acia, a young student planning on continuing as a professional dancer after college, is also performing in Great Leaps this semester, in not one, but three different dance classes. She has been apart of the dance program for many years and she spoke about the benefits of performing for a live audience, saying “The most valuable skill I have learned from being in Great Leaps is to be prepared. In preparation for a performance you learn the music as well as the choreography that you participate in and as well as the choreography for others in the same piece. Usually this is so that if anything goes astray, you will know how long you can improvise until you can rejoin the choreography without making it look like a mistake. However this kind of preparation has taught me to always be prepared and know your subjects inside and out so you can possibly answer any questions that come up in conversations or presentations. In interviews, knowing your subject well shows dedication and has helped me find employment.”
Jenna rehearses her piece for the upcoming show with a fellow dancer. Photo provided by Daniel Nathaniel.
Both Jenna and Zachary are star dance students, and their passion for the art of dance is apparent during their performances. They have been applying the skills taught in their many dance classes in order to become not only better dancers, but also better students and employees.
If you would like to join a dance class next semester, check out the courses offered at https://www.sis.hawaii.edu/uhdad/avail.classes?i=HIL&t=201610. Also, dont forget to come see all of the wonderful dancers perform this weekend! Tickets are available at the UH Hilo box office or online at http://hilo.hawaii.edu/depts/theatre/tickets/.
