The Auroris Dance Company is hosting its most highly anticipated show this year called Ignite.

There will be an exciting lineup including jazz, modern, ballet, hip-hop, lyrical hip-hop, can-can, western, fusion pieces including Bollywood ballet and jazz hip-hop, and a special appearance by Why Not Dance?(YND?).

This year there will be two character pieces including a can-can dance which involves the Can-Can girls trying to one-up each other but ends up in a huge brawl by the end. The other character piece is a western dance where good and evil try to battle each other in a comedic western shoot out. While there are some funny comic pieces there are also emotional dances. For example, there is a dance that deals with mental health and cancer.

“I choreographed two pieces this year. One piece is called 1-800-273-TALK where I collaborated with my friend Chloe Ballais. We tell a story about depression and suicide. The other piece I choreographed is called With You – it describes a breakup from the male perspective that I made with my friend Heline Kim,” Sally Le said. 

Usually, each show name has a theme or meaning behind it. This year it means to give energy or life to.

“The dancers all suggest a name and explain the meaning behind the name. Then our director narrows down the options and once we have two options left the company votes on which one they like best,” Le, dancer, said.

The team captain of Auroris, Mollie Chez, is currently choreographing a tap piece for this year’s show. “I am currently a captain of Auroris which means that I have to choreograph. I choose to co-choreograph a tap piece for this year’s show,” Chez said. Chez says she hopes that the audience feels inspired to continue their own artistic passions.

“This year we have a lot of meaningful pieces with strong messages like cancer and body image,” Julia Schneider, dancer, stated about what to expect from this year’s show.

“It’s a very diverse show this year.  We have special pieces about mental health as well as cancer that we want to bring special attention to.  There are also comedic and fun pieces that we think the audience will love.  We just want people to come see our nationally recognized dance company and all the work they put into preparing this show throughout the year,” Deanna Sortino, director, stated.

This year Auroris will definitely not disappoint with their variety of dances, diversity, and different themes, so you should come out and see them ‘Ignite’ the dance floor in their free community performance at 10 a.m. or on Jan. 26 or Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10. 

Featured image captured by Ethan Soo