Two acts. Twenty-four dances. Two minutes each.

As parents and friends anxiously await to see a dancer’s performance, backstage is hectic with costumes changes and last-minute rehearsal. 

Sarah Douglas (12) and Jordan Gauthier (10), co-presidents of DM’s Dance Council, said all decisions regarding shows and their preparation are collaborative.

“Jordan and I make sure that all of council knows what their job is for the show,” Douglas said, “and how they can be an outlet for the whole dance program so that our show is the best it can be.”

The Desert Dance Company, DDC, takes the program’s best performers to travel across the Valley, performing for different businesses and residents. 

“It’s going great, it’s a small group with a bunch of different girls, and yet we all get along really well,” said Amanda Ortega (11), who is in her first year of DDC and third year of dance. “While I didn’t expect DDC to be easy, it is a lot harder than I expected it to be.”

Stage manager Ginevera Suro (11), who took over from last year’s senior, Claudia Hall, said she’s ready for whatever happens.

“I try to be as prepared as I can such as memorizing how dances end to call the cues on time,” said Suro, who opened her first show last month. “My main concern is just feeling comfortable with being the one who calls the shots.” 

During the show there were sound errors but after a small interruption the show was back on.

As Suro prepares to open the show, Sofia Lauricella (11) greets guests as house manager. Lauricella inspects guests to be sure they have their mask and a ticket.

“My biggest concern is the guests that are stubborn about our mask rules,” she said, “although it does not happen often.”

Even with small mishaps with guests, everything runs smoothly. 

“There is a lot of communication between us and the rest of the people working the show in order for it to run smoothly,” Lauricella said. “The most difficult part of the job is balancing it while also performing in the show and helping out backstage.”