From the first day of school in September, the girls in Holy Family Academy’s dance troupe were looking toward the end of the year in anticipation of their May dance show.
While the dancers do a host of other events during the year, said Christina Garced, choreographer and instructor, such as the annual Christmas show, a number of masses, and even the Relay for Life, it is for this final event of the season that they work so hard. At least once a week, they work to prepare the dance numbers they will perform.
“As we get closer to the show, they come twice a week,” Garced said. “With the show at the end of this week, the girls are here every day.”
Garced, an actor, singer, ballroom dance champion, choreographer, director and original member of the dance troupe while a student at HFA, has become a fixture at HFA producing and directing theatrical productions. But she is clearly most fond of putting on dances.
“This year we wanted to so something a little different,” said Nancy Figur, moderator and costumer. “This is the 10th anniversary of the show.”
“This year we wanted to do something a little different.” — Nancy Figur
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Old and new performers
The show was started in 2003 by Garced and Mary Kate Figur. And for this show alumni Allie Gill, Christina Gill, Mary-Kate Figur, Jessica Kascic, Kaithyn Poonessa, and Racquel Doering will return to dance in some of the numbers.
With 48 dance numbers in the two-hour show, there was more than enough space to pay tribute to all of the dance troupes that had taken part in previous shows. This year’s dancers duplicated numbers they saw on video from past years.
Joining them will be some of the alumni from past troupes, some who have gone on to train in dance.
“Not all of them were trained in dance, and took up dance when they got to college,” Garced said. “That’s what’s so wonderful about this.”
The dance show, called “And the Beat Goes On,” will be presented on May 18 and 19 at 8 p.m. and will feature performances in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical and contemporary dance. This the 10th dance show at Holy Family. This year’s troupe has over 30 members – all past, current, and future HFA students.
Tickets are $10 and can be obtained through one of the dance troupe members, by emailing hfadancetroupe@aol.com or by calling Holy Family at (201) 339-7341. Tickets must be purchased in advance, as the shows will sell out.