On Nov. 20 and 21, KO’s annual Choreographer Showcase lit up Roberts Theater with one of the most ambitious and thrilling productions the program has presented in recent years. With a record-breaking 37 dancers and an impressive lineup of professional guest choreographers, this year’s Showcase was not only a performance, but it reached a new milestone for KO’s rapidly growing dance and theater program.
From the opening number of the show, it was clear that this year’s Choreographer Showcase was unlike any other. Behind that energy was a strengthened team of leadership led by senior Head Dance Captain Juliana Chipelo, senior Captains Jane Morris and Riley Mapp, and sophomore Hunter James. Their total combined experience and constant encouragement helped dancers at every level navigate the intensive rehearsal process.
Each fall, Director of Theater Kyle Reynolds curates a group of choreographers who bring fresh perspectives and technically challenging material for students. This year’s Choreographer Showcase featured an especially wide range of styles, including ballroom, ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and a standout piece of Fosse fusion constructed by NYC choreographer Tanner Lane, bringing the grand total to seven pieces.
For Mr. Reynolds, the selection of choreographers reflects a larger vision for the program. “The fact that we study five different styles every day after school is wild,” Mr. Reynolds said. “I don’t know of any other schools that offer what we do. For our most advanced dancers, someone like Tanner provides that extra challenge they need to grow.”
Mr. Lane’s overall reputation and rise to fame in New York had been on Mr. Reynolds’ radar long before he reached out to him. Mr. Lane’s piece quickly became one of the highlights of the Showcase, opening the show with a gripping, vampire-like atmosphere that kept the audience on the edge of their seats.
The Showcase’s range in styles pushed dancers in ways that were both demanding and rewarding. The ballroom number emphasized the need for trust and communication between partnerships, especially for some of its most challenging moves, such as the death drop, a dramatic fall into a backbend while holding onto their partner’s arms, where dancers hover just above the floor.
The ballet piece centered mainly around precision and technique, and followed the story of “Return to Oz.” It included several distinct sections pushing dancers’ memorization, stamina, and character work.
For many, the tap piece was the biggest surprise. It was high energy and unexpected, especially since many students had never tapped before. Over weeks of rehearsal, dancers worked relentlessly and ultimately performed their own improvised solos within the piece, something many never even imagined being able to do.
The jazz piece was also a standout, especially thanks to its bold costumes, black leather pants, and shiny silver tops that amplified the piece’s sharp, uplifting energy and kept the audience fully engaged.
This year also marked a first in KO dance history: a student-choreographed piece was performed in the showcase. Juliana created a contemporary/lyrical piece to Noah Kahn’s “Maine.” The piece involved a series of steps that challenged dancers out of their comfort zone, as some had never danced before, and the result was a beautifully executed moment on stage.
Juliana said that she loved being able to choreograph a piece of her own and express her own ideas. “It was the first time I’ve ever gotten to do something like this,” she said. Reflecting on the experience, it’s something she hopes to be able to continue looking into the future.
Junior Deborah Stutz also felt the impact of Juliana’s work. “It was a different experience,” Deborah said, “and very cool to have one of my peers choreograph a piece, and see her get into the zone while teaching us.”
The finishing piece of the Choreographer Showcase was a contemporary piece choreographed by Nicole Henkel, who has been working with KO over the last three years. The choreography required dancers to think far outside the box. They performed wearing full black face coverings that wrapped over the entire head, limiting visibility. Additionally, the choreography involved rapid zip and unzip sequences using black jackets on specific counts, meaning absolute precision was required from every dancer.
For Deborah, who was performing in the Showcase for the first time, the experience was both exciting and meaningful. “It was great to meet a whole new genre of people that I never interacted with,” Deborah said. “And it was very fun to get back into dancing after I’d taken two years off.”
Many dancers described this year’s process as one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences they’ve had on the KO stage. With so many different styles represented and shown, they were pushed to their limits by adapting quickly, supporting each other, and staying mentally and physically sharp through the long rehearsals and a demanding tech week. According to several performers and Mr. Reynolds, the mix of styles can make the show feel like five different shows in one.
Mr. Reynolds noted how much the dancers have grown after the fall dance season, not only technically, but as a community in general. “I don’t know of any other high school that studies this many styles every single day after school,” he said. “Whether you’ve been dancing your whole life or just started, the program meets you where you are and moves you forward.”
The audience response reflected that growth as well. The energy onstage felt expansive during both shows, not just because of the choreography, but because of the size of the cast and the sense of collaboration that was kept behind every piece. With the largest number of dancers in Choreographer Showcase history, it made the stage feel full, dynamic, and effortlessly alive.
Looking ahead, Mr. Reynolds is excited to continue building the program’s momentum. Each year, the Choreographer Showcase has grown more ambitious, and the dancers consistently rise to meet the challenge. With strong leadership from captains and a supportive case, the program continues to strengthen its sense of community and artistic identity.
This year’s Choreographer Showcase set a new bar for the program. With committed dancers, new and old, dedicated leadership, and a growing connection to the broader community of dance, KO continues to redefine what a high school dance production can be and where it can go next.
