Dancers collectively let out a sigh when the weather held Saturday, June 29th and Sunday, June 30th for Sterling’s outdoor dance concert at the Two Harbors Bandshell. Featuring a variety of dance styles, including tap, ballet, jazz, and contemporary, as well as choreography by various artists, the concerts were a fun sampling of what Sterling dancers have learned in the past year.
Saturday evening began with an arrangement of various tap pieces set to music from The Sound of Music, Funny Girl, Sophisticated Ladies, A Chorus Line, Singin’ in the Rain, Annie, Footloose, Wicked, Fosse, Chicago, and Swing. Dancers were from all levels, entering and exiting the stage for their contribution to the mélange.
Aili Gischia performed a jazz solo next to an arrangement of songs from Fosse, and Akaya Anzik and Aneliese Scriven followed with a duet to “In the Real World”. Teacher and former Minnesota Ballet company member Sarah White Ritchie then danced to “No Day But Today”.
“Range of Emotions” came next, featuring jazz dancers of multiple levels each contributing to this number, an arrangement of various pieces showcasing the emotions of “freedom, tranquility, joy, fierce & strong, and love.”
Musical interludes broke up the various acts, featuring musicians Paul Deaner, Nik Wourms, and Scott Gischia, and singers Kim Costley Smoltz, Kristin Norlander, and Leah Carpenter.
Akaya Aili, Aneliese, and Brie Svendsen performed a lyrical jazz piece to “She Used to Be Mine” from the Broadway show Waitress. This was followed by a younger class (Anna C., Lillian C., Kodie O., Iljia P., Lyla P., Janey S., and Elin V.) performing ballet to “As It Should Be”.
The adult tap class performed next to the upbeat “I Feel Better When I’m Dancing”, featuring Sterling’s teachers at the end, as they showed off their tap moves too much.
Dancing en pointe were Akaya, Aili, Aneliese, Macy Hamilton, and Hanna Searls in “Little Bayaderes”. Brie then danced a jazz solo to Etta James’ “At Last”. Akaya, Aili, Macy, Aneliese, Hanna, Brie, and Toby McDonald were next on the program, performing a contemporary dance to Tori Kelly’s “Hallelujah”.
Sarah White Ritchie returned to the stage to perform the powerful and elegant ballet piece “Dying Swan” which depicts the final moments of a swan’s life.
“Spanish Dance” was then performed by the intermediate and advanced ballet dancers. Joining Akaya, Aili, Macy, Toby, Aneliese, Hanna, and Brie for this piece were Iris Cannon and Addison Hastings.
The youngest dancers took the stage next with their ballet piece “Poof”, followed by the intermediate and advanced dancers returning for their final two ballet pieces, “El Vito” and “Danza”.
Saturday evening concluded with the entire Sterling Dance family dancing the “Begin Again Grande Finale” which featured music from Rent and included songs by Point of Grace. To much applause and cat-calls, two-by-two the Sterling Dance family came back on stage for bows.
For those attending both the Saturday and Sunday performances, attendees were treated to encores of many of the Saturday pieces, with additional pieces not performed the previous evening.
Musical Interludes were scattered throughout the evening, giving dancers a few precious minutes to change and prepare for their next set. These interludes were presented by Wourms and Deaner (guitar), Gishia (bass), and Smotlz, Carpenter, and Norlander on Vocals.
Sunday evening began with Sarah White Ritchie dancing to “No Day But Today”. This was followed by the group piece “Range of Emotions”, White Ritche’s “She Used to Be Mine”, and the group tap piece “I Feel Better When I’m Dancing”.
Brie Svendsen returned with her solo “At Last”, as did the advanced ballet dancers with the pointe piece “Little Bayaderes”. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced tap dancers picked up the pace as they danced to “One” from the musical A Chorus Line. Sarah White Ritchie caused us to pause and reflect with “Dying Swan”.
Intermediate and advanced tap dancers stirred up the emotions and moves of attendees who were teens in the ‘80’s with their rendition of Kenny Loggins’ “Footloose”. Advanced tap dancers were then joined by the adult dance class for “All that Jazz”, with music taken from the Fosse and Swing soundtracks.
For those who missed the Saturday performance, “Hallelujah”, “In the Real World”, and “Fosse Forever” were back for another offering.
Ballet students of all levels finished the night with a medley of pieces entitled Danza, followed by the Sterling Dance signature finale “Seasons of Love” and bows.
Attendance was high each evening. Dancers and attendees alike enjoyed two beautiful evenings of music and dance to end a rainy month. The youngest dancers couldn’t resist stealing the show as they danced their hearts out during the finales, and each night they brought dum dum candies and little paper hearts to the audience.
A huge thank you to the Sterling teachers and dancers for their dedication and hard work, the numerous behind the scenes people who make the show possible, and Lovin’ Lake County for their generous support toward the arts. Be sure to look for next year’s performance, scheduled for the last weekend in June 2025.
