Auroris Dance Company will perform their show “Allure” on Jan. 23-25 in the Auditorium. The name “Allure,” picked by the company, encompasses the overall theme of the show.
“Allure sounds like there’s a little bit of a secret, or there’s a little bit of magic, or something that can be sort of captured through dance that we can’t necessarily hear or understand the same way through words or through visual art,” Auroris Director Annaliisa Ahlman said. “It needs to be communicated through movement.”
Since August, the dance company’s members have been crafting the 17-piece show, with genres ranging from hip-hop to jazz to cultural. Senior and captain Selma Sorlija reflects on choreographing her Gatsby-inspired piece “Emergency” with senior Kendall Baker.
“We went off the movies, the party vibe. You’re enamored by it,” Sorlija said. “And it’s very shiny, and the glitz and glamor is all stands out. So we kind of went based off that vibe. ”
Junior Cassey Delos Reyes choreographed her first piece, “Diva” on her own.
“I was nervous that my choreography wasn’t going to look as good as I wanted it to,” Delos Reyes said. “However, because I choreographed last year, it was very easy for me to incorporate moves that I knew the dancers could do/learn how to do.”
Allure features dances from different cultures as well. In addition to an Afro-Caribbean piece guest-choreographed by Stacy Letrice, senior Tulsi Shah choreographed a Bollywood dance. Not only will the dance be featured in Allure, but it was also selected to be in the National High School Dance Festival in Pittsburgh this February.
“It’s different than other styles. It’s a cultural dance, and it’s more traditional,” junior and captain Laila Jimenez said. “It’s just a fun, upbeat piece that really is different from anything else in the show.”
It’s hard work choreographing an entire piece from scratch, but members say the process is easier with a supportive team. Ahlman claims this a testament of work ethic and leadership.
“People are really dedicated, especially the older students, the more leadership they take on,” Ahlman said. “Whether that’s as a captain, whether that’s as a choreographer, even students who are not in an official position, it’s cool to watch them develop leadership and help a friend who’s struggling, or help somebody else in the dance who needs some extra practice.”
There’s more to Auroris besides dancing, though. Now a senior, Sorlija recalls her first year on Auroris as a shy freshman. But by experimenting with different dance styles, she came out of her shell.
“Once you’re just so confident and open, let other people open your doors too,” Sorlija said. “That’s what Auroris is about. And you really feel like this is an experience you want to continue. And so now I’m just very grateful for it. I wish I could have more years of it, because it’s just an amazing experience.”
