Featured on the First: April

I’ve decided to start a new monthly tradition on my blog on the first day of every month. I love being able to recognize a special person, group, business, event… anything that puts a smile on my face and I think deserves a little extra special attention because I think the world needs some good news every once in a while, don’t you?! So on the first day of every month I’m going to be “featuring” someone or something. I am so excited to announce that this month the group of ladies I am featuring is very near and dear to my heart– Orchesis Dance Company from University of Vermont. It is April, which means it’s show month! This is the first year I’m not dancing on a regular basis (other than in my living room) and I find that as their upcoming spring showcase approaches, I’m feeling more of the dance “itch” that I get when I haven’t danced in a while (other dancers, I know you know what I’m talking about). I’m hoping to get my dance fix when I head up to Burlington to see their show in just 2 weeks! But first, let me tell you a little about Orchesis…

I joined Orchesis Dance Company my freshman year of college at UVM. I danced throughout middle & high school and knew I wanted to continue in college, but had no idea what an amazing group I was joining. Strictly from a dance point of view, it was an amazing four years of dancing with girls from all over the country, each bringing their own style and personality to the dance floor. Anyone in the company can choreograph and a full 2 hour show–choreography, music, cleaning, costumes, everything–is put together in just one semester (and on a very low budget I might add!). I began choreographing my sophomore year and it was truly an amazing and indescribable experience to see your choreography ideas come to life. With each semester that I danced on Orchesis, I was always amazed with the incredibly beautiful dancers I was surrounded by. But Orchesis was about so much more than just the dance… The friendships I developed with Orchesis girls will last a lifetime and I will always cherish those memories (corny, cliche… ya ya, i know). Rehearsals were a place you could go a dance out your feelings, laugh until you fell to the floor, or cry with about 20 girls ready to give you a shoulder to cry on. I will never forget our themed parties, dancing in the freezing rain at Relay for Life, or the thrill of seeing our crowd overflow at our shows. I miss Orchesis every day and want to recognize it for being the amazing student-run group at UVM that it is.

Below I’ve posted some photos I took at their fall show and the video of the last dance I choreographed on Orchesis– “For You,” a dance dedicated to my husband (was my fiancé at the time, just a few months before our wedding!). “Like” Kelsey DeWitt Photography on Facebook to stay updated on upcoming show photos!

If any of you Orchesis girls (and any other amazing dance guest at UVM–Hoop Troop, Celtic Cats, CDC, everyone!) are reading this, best of luck at your spring show! I can’t wait to see it and I know it will be the best show yet.