ARB’s Opening Night performance was nothing short of amazing. The dancers performed with great energy and the result was a performance close to perfection. I was stunned and absorbed by the exhibition of technique and stage presence, leaving minor mistakes, if there were any, unnoticeable. I am pleased to say that I really enjoyed all three pieces, noth that I ever doubted the abilities of ARB's professional dancers. I must say, their hard work in mastering fancy footwork and complicated movements definitely showed. I still am astonished at what a fabulous job the dancers did and how creative all three of the sections were. Sitting in the audience, my eyes were bulging, hardly blinking at the beauty of the choreography and the precise attack of the dancers. Aside from the dancers’ abilities to attack technically demanding choreography, they perfectly portrayed the expressive themes and emotions that the music and choreography articulated. 

My favorite piece had to be the very first one, Fantasy for Violin, Piano, and Ballet. It was flirty, fun, classical, and amusing all in one ballet. I could easily recognize the various shapes the artists created, as discussed in the On Pointe Enrichment Series event on October 14th.  Choreographer Matthew Keefe explained that he carefully considered the placement of the dancers on the stage and the poses they would be in. Kirk Peterson's The Eyes That Gently Touch was a powerfully moving piece. The live piano music, the lighting, and the combination of graceful and brisk steps came together in such a way that I could connect to the dancers and the story they were trying to tell. The dance seemed almost poem-like, in its emotional and lyrical journey. Each duet, slightly different from each other, was able to depict three different scenes that contributed to the dance as a whole. The final piece, Straight Up with a Twist, was especially interesting to watch. The choreography asked more than just discipline and close attention to detail; it called for the dancers to move sensually, using the jazz rhythms as a guide.

Attending dance performances inspires me to not only focus on proper technique daily but also to actually perform. Barre work and work in the center require dancers to develop proper alignment, turnout, and practice difficult steps but all the while students should learn to use their eyes and the movement of the head. Rehearsals are the perfect time to practice smiling and dancing with full energy. Dancing is more than the executing the movements; A great performance has to be neat and grasp the audience's attention; the group must cooperate with a sense of unity and togetherness; the musicality in the dancers’ work must be present. From ARBW Juniors, I am learning that, to act as a company, all members must join forces to become better dancers and put on the best show possible. So, I know that the dancers must have worked very hard to come together and produce Opening Night.