Bright swirling skirts, fast paced hip-hop music, elegant ballerina twirls, and so much more. It is no wonder that So You Think Stern Can Dance is one of the much anticipated events of the year. It is a chance for Stern women to show off their skill, talents, and long hours of effort. And when the show is over, everyone agrees that Stern, in fact, can dance.
Bright swirling skirts, fast paced hip-hop music, elegant ballerina twirls, and so much more. It is no wonder that So You Think Stern Can Dance is one of the much anticipated events of the year. It is a chance for Stern women to show off their skill, talents, and long hours of effort. And when the show is over, everyone agrees that Stern, in fact, can dance.“Girls at Stern don’t always have an outlet for their talents, says Shaina Joyandeh, SCW ’15. “ This is such a great way for them to show their friends and family what they can do. And they really brought it!” Shaina’s sentiments are echoed by many who saw either one of the two performances. It is certainly true that for Orthodox Jewish women, it is not so often that they get to show their dancing talent, but So You Think Stern Can Dance provides just that opportunity.
The show began this year as it has in the past with a performance by the B’Notes featuring their original medley of numerous songs, and a video by Emcees Liran Weizman and Amanda Esraelian. These introductions were followed by 15 dances, all choreographed and performed by Stern students and alumni in various combinations of groups and solo acts.
What is most remarkable about the performance is the diversity among dances. No two dances are alike, and the genres run a spectrum from Bollywood to Tap with some hip hop and jazz thrown in as well. “Each dancer in the Beauty and the Beat hip hop piece had great technique,” says Chanie Shalmoni, SCW ’15. “They were all smiling and it really made it look they were having fun.” The energy of the dancers was palpable, and as they executed their moves with precision, the audience was in awe. Whether they were sporting neon or leather, the costumes matched the style of music, adding a professional touch.
This year SYTSCD was held at Norman Thomas High School, a new stage that was found after the loss of the Schottenstein Cultural Center, where the show is usually held. And when the curtain went up, it wasn’t just the dancers and choreographers who were responsible for the seamless show. It was the year-round effort of co-producers Yali Raichlin and Leora Lewis. Beginning in the fall, they auditioned dancers and choreographers, then paired them together into dances and oversaw the rehearsal process. They also handled technical details such as lighting, music, and T-shirt orders.
“The most rewarding part is seeing the talent that Stern women have to offer,” says Raichlin who has been dancing competitively for most of her life. ““We so often box our peers into a group we think they fit in. It’s a humbling experience to watch people you’ve seen around or seen in class do something so different from what you ever thought they could do.”
It is certainly true that what makes SYTSCD so fun is seeing that girl in your chemistry lab or the one giving a Thursday chaburah show off her moves on stage. Whether it was a slower paced lyrical dance or a jazz number, there was always someone up there or something that came as a surprise. “The choreography was unique and original,” says Shira Marder about a Contemporary Hip Hop piece choreographed by Talia Pruzansky. “They were all united, and there was no weak link.” This could be said about multiple dances, and overall it was definitely a show to remember. The question of “So You Think Stern Can Dance?” was definitely answered with a resounding yes!