Illustration by Alyson Sutherland
Two dancers representing the dance portion of Arts Alive and its variety of dances that our school offers. Arts Alive is a performing arts event that showcases student talent and hard work.
Spring is here and our Franklin dancers are springing into action for Arts Alive. Our dance and theater departments work hard year after year to put on performances we’ll never forget. For those who may not be familiar with Arts Alive, it’s a performance displaying a variety of different kinds of dance, from tap to ballet. Arts Alive also includes theatrical performances, slam poetry, musicians, and various solo or group acts. Dance teacher Sonia Kellermann helps dancers raise their skill level and perfect their performance. She also decides each dance for the performance.
While everything looks elegant on stage, it’s chaotic backstage, with dancers and technical crew preparing for the next scene. “You prepare to get on stage for your four minutes of fame,” Indie Becker, a dancer, says. They’ve been dancing in Arts Alive for three years and look forward to it every year. The show usually ranges from an hour to two and a half hours. The dancers take preparation for the event very seriously, and the night always ends with a standing ovation.
Before the show starts, there’s much to do in preparation for the big show. “You spend so much time with these people, especially when you’re preparing for the performances,” says Ariel Hogan, a sophomore dancer. The dance department has different dance levels from 1-2, up to Advanced. With each level of dance, there are varied dances provided to the students i.e.; ballet, tap, and jazz; at each level, the students learn new dance skills. Each level gets together for the rehearsals and gets ready to open for a real audience.
Dancers spend a majority of their time after school and on weekends getting ready for Arts Alive. For the dance department, the weekend is not a break from dancing. Sundays are set aside for dance companies, which gives them extra practice time to prepare for performances. Depending on the dance project they do, practice can last more than five hours on the weekends. Dancers are in different groups, so each dancer is performing based on their skill level. Each class period has their own performance to practice for. They start dancing every Sunday at the beginning of the year and end Sunday practices after Arts Alive.
What’s so important about Arts Alive? It’s not just another dance performance; it’s the final show for our amazing seniors. Preparation starts as early as November. Unfortunately, due to the strike in 2023, the dance department lost a lot of time to practice and prepare for Arts Alive.
Each year, the theme differs. For example, last year, the performance focused on different generations of dance, from the roaring ‘20s to the ‘90s. They included a hip hop performance to the tune of “Her” by Megan thee Stallion and a tropical-themed dance to the tune of “Copacabana.” They also featured a prom-themed dance on roller skates to the tune of “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins. The 2021 Arts Alive symbolized the seasons with several different dances including a hip hop number to “Run the World (Girls)” by Beyonce, and “Beware” by Big Sean. Every year, the performances tell a different story, capturing the audience’s attention.
If you want to see this year’s performance and support the dancers, tickets are for sale in @dance.at.franklin’s Instagram bio and on the Franklin High School website in the main page slides. Student and senior tickets are $15 and adults are $20.
Arts Alive continues to thrive and bring joy each year through riveting themes and powerful performances. All of the performances are late night shows starting at 7:00 p.m. on Friday or Saturday from April 19-27. Be sure to not miss the show on April 27 for Senior Night. This performance wouldn’t be possible without our talented senior dancers and senior technical crew. You definitely don’t want to miss this year’s Arts Alive, which will have you on the edge of your seat! It’s a performance you won’t forget, so tell your family and friends!
