On 29 April, the QACI Collective, comprised of Year 10, 11 and 12 Dance students, presented Launch, their electric first performance of the year - the first sold out dance production in QACI history! The show was a celebration of teamwork, communication and expression, as the students shared their performances and compositions developed from the start of the year.
The Year 10 students performed a compelling and expressive Musical Theatre routine inspired by Broadway Jazz, and incorporating techniques innovated by Bob Fosse. The performance engaged audiences through it's story-telling, and was an impressive start to the Year 10 Dance cohort's QACI journey. The theme of internal dialogue inspired the Year 11 cohort in the first act, which commenced with an intriguing and complex group number, dealing with an insomniac's struggles in attempting to operate like clockwork. It was exciting to watch each student's choreography shine within the duets, which displayed their unique skills and voices within the collective.
The Year 12 Dance cohort explored the theme of recollection through a collective performance in the second act, investigating how memory sews together experiences, purpose and identity through movement. The individual duets and trios were particularly memorable, featuring remarkable partnering and demonstrating the immense talent held by the cohort. Within the following Q and A, the insight into the individuality of the choreographic process for each student was eye-opening, and truly exhibited the enthusiasm and dedication held within each performer to present such a polished and captivating production.
Within the challenges faced in Term 1, the entire dance collective has shown resilience and determination, and their effort has resulted in a cohesive, unique and professional production. With choreography largely devised by students and assisted by Miss Katie Stephenson, the performance was no less than exceptional, showcasing the emerging collaborative, interpretive and technical skills of each performer, within both performance and choreography.
Congratulations to the QACI Collective on their performance of Launch!
...article written by Anna Ryley, Year 12.