Costumes, glitter, and hard work line the dance room as the dance department prepares for the Spring Show, Elevate, the final performance of the year for the Blue Belles, Baby Belles, Sapphires and dance classes.

On May 1, the Blue Belle spring show “Elevate” will debut and last over three days. Dancers have been practicing for months leading up to this moment, and have been looking forward to it all year. The theme “Elevate” is being used to encourage motivation throughout the community, as it inspires people to pursue through hardships to reach goals and passions. 

“[The] spring show influences the community because we tell a story that can apply to anyone’s life, no matter how old they are or where they are at,” senior and Blue Belle captain Jessica Egelsee said. “To me, Elevate symbolizes the reality of struggles, doubt, and trials but also the opportunity for friendship, passion, [and] resilience… that we gain along the way,” freshman and Baby Belle Clara Grant said. 

Every year, the spring show has a different theme to help encourage and inspire the community. Head director Ashley Williams said she wanted the original name of this year’s spring show to be “eudaimonia,” but it was changed due to the difficult pronunciation. 

“I wanted [eudaimonia] because the definition of it is ‘humans flourishing,’” Williams said. “I had all of the officer candidates from last year take that idea… and find a better title for it. Claire Smith came up with the word ‘Elevate.’”

While elevating the community, dancers also learn about important life skills to bring along with them outside of practices and performances. 

“Spring show teaches dancers and the production team tenacity and pushing through [difficult situations],” Williams said. “When you choose to have a good attitude, it does pay off.” 

The spring show was bittersweet for Blue Belle seniors since it was their final Blue Belle performance of high school, and the night was always filled with emotion among the team. 

“My favorite part about [the] spring show is watching the last dance, as it represents the last dance of the senior Blue Belles,” sophomore and Sapphire company leader Lilly Belangia said. “It will always make me emotional to watch that dance.”

The rehearsals leading up to the spring show tend to bring the dancers together even closer than before.
“My favorite part about spring show is the amount of time we get to spend all together,” Egelsee said. “It’s sad that it’s my last [performance], but it’s the most special [experience] to me.”