The music department has been preparing and rehearsing for their spring musical, “The Addams Family.” This year, the musical gained a new choreographer: Ms. Landay. She is an art teacher at BPHS.
The dance captains are Alayna Banks and Aubrey Manion.
Manion said, “I think Alayna and I make a great team and I can’t wait to see what we do this year!”
Meet Alayna Banks
Alayna Banks is a senior at BPHS and is one of the dance captains in the spring musical, “The Addams Family.” Banks is also Head Majorette in the marching band.
Head Majorette has only ever been senior majorettes. Banks became Head Majorette her junior year.
“Head Majorette is normally only open to seniors, so my junior year was a little difficult because I had a leadership role in my first normal year of marching band after COVID,” Banks said about her marching band experience.
She also said: “Being Head Majorette for two years was such an amazing opportunity. I had so much fun getting to make up all the different routines and getting to know all the girls.”
Banks studied dance at Studio 412 where she currently teaches dance classes. She has been dancing for 15 years. She has done many forms of dance but focuses on tap, jazz, contemporary, and ballet. Dancing in musicals at BPHS is different from the usual dance styles Banks does as it involves partnering and lifts.
Banks was in two BPHS shows previously. She was a featured dancer in “Guys and Dolls” her freshman year and dance captain in “Cinderella” her junior year.
When asked if she was excited to be dance captain again this spring, Banks said: “I am so excited to work with Miss Landay this year. Being with and getting to know all the dancers in the musical is my favorite part and I cannot wait for everything to come together.”
Meet Aubrey Manion
Aubrey Manion is a senior at BPHS and is one of the dance captains in the spring musical, “The Addams Family.” Manion is also one of the Head Bethettes in the marching band and is a member of Top 21, NHS, and SGA.
Manion has done two shows prior to “The Addams Family.” She was a featured dancer in “Guys and Dolls” her freshman year and dance captain in “Cinderella” her junior year.
When asked about her past experience being a dance captain, Manion said: “I enjoyed being a dance captain last year because it was my first time having a leadership role. I loved getting to work with our previous choreographer Becky and dance with people I don’t get to dance with on a daily basis.”
Manion is thrilled to perform as dance captain again.
She said: “I am looking forward to working with our new choreographer, Miss Landay, meeting all of the new dancers, dancing with them, and having fun hanging out before rehearsals.”
Manion has been dancing at the Academy of Dance by Lori for 15 years. She studies all styles of dance but focuses on jazz, tap, contemporary, and ballet. Although she dances many types of dance, doing the musical is where she gets to experience partner dancing rather than explicitly solo and group dance.
Manion said: “Dancing in the musicals is similar to the dance I do outside of school style-wise, but there is more partner work in musicals than I usually do at dance. Partner work is a fun addition to my dance experience and I’m very glad I get the opportunity to do this.”