Lauren Lemay, a sophomore at Springfield College, will perform in her first dance concert this weekend. After competing in dance throughout her childhood she recently joined the dance club at Springfield to pursue her passion once again. The Springfield Student spoke with Lemay to hear her thoughts on the event, why dance is an important art, and what she has gotten out of the experience.
Kemp: How has it been preparing for the spring dance concert?
Lemay: I almost have no words to describe what an experience this has been and how rewarding it is going to feel this weekend. Everybody has been willing to put in the time and effort to put on a great show for one another and the SC community. This is a busy time of year…Some members have sports like myself, other clubs, and school. Some people are finishing graduate programs. Even with all these things going on every single member has put in countless hours of their time for rehearsals and behind the scenes work.
Kemp: What is the dance community like at Springfield College?
Lemay: The members of the dance club are some of the most incredible and genuine human beings I have ever met. Being a new member to the group I have felt nothing but endless support and encouragement throughout these past few months. Everybody’s passion and love for dance shines through and it is contagious. These people and this opportunity to perform again are the reasons why I fell in love with dance all over again. The family dynamic that I have experienced from being a part of this club is truly something special.
Kemp: As a new addition to the dance team, how have you seen dance as a positive experience for your life?
Lemay: Being a part of teams and things bigger than myself has always been something that has interested me. Coming to Springfield I originally had no intention of ever dancing again. After a semester in an Intro to Dance class I reached out to Sarah Zehnder (advisor of the dance club) and Angelina Cohen (president of the dance club) and I knew I had to get back into it. My field hockey teammates have also been nothing but supportive and I feel like one of the luckiest people in the world to be able to do both of the things I love.
Kemp: What is it about dance and this performance that is important, and why should people attend?
Lemay: The Spring Concert has all pieces choreographed by members of the SC Dance Club. These choreographers have put so much time and energy into these pieces and it is such a beautiful xperience seeing them all performed live. After seeing all of the pieces already it is so inspiring to see all of these amazing individuals create something so personal and vulnerable. That is the amazing thing about dance, it makes you feel a certain way without actually telling you with words. With the help of Sarah Zehnder, Sabrina Hamilton, and the members of the SC Dance Club this show is going to be a memorable experience for everyone who attends.
The Annual Spring Dance Concert will take place Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 pm in Fuller Arts Center.
Photo Courtesy Lauren Lemay