In a vibrant performance reminiscent of the iconic year of the Abbot and Andover merger, students at Pan Athletic Center transported their audience through a kaleidoscope of music, dance, and storytelling. As the curtain rose, each act unveiled a carefully curated selection of songs from the era, capturing the essence of the year 1973. Audience members found themselves immersed in a tapestry of stories inviting both interpretation and reflection.
This past weekend, the Andover Theatre and Dance Department presented “’73: A Golden Celebration” at the Pan Athletic Center. As its name suggests, the performance was themed after the year 1973, with each act using songs exclusively from the year. The song choices varied from mellow and abstract to pop diva, an aspect which awed the audience. Performer Satabhisha Sarkar ’27 elaborated more on the intention of the music choice.
“It was reflecting the music and the vibes of the time, but with a modern twist, cause we’re modern, young people… I think the audience’s perception, it’s all these different ideas, they’re absorbing the information, they’re like, ‘Ooh this is some different music,’ like start[ing] off with ‘Bennie and the Jets’ [by Elton John], and it’s like pop diva… It’s also the variety. Everyone’s gonna find something they like,” said Sarkar.
Each act of the show sought to encapsulate a meaningful story and the stories further developed throughout the production process. Performer Eugenia Evangelios ’27 noted how the emotions of each piece changed as the dancing and choreography evolved.
“We didn’t really realize that ‘Over Young’ would have such a deep story. At the beginning, we thought it would just be about friendship, and then Ms. Wombwell was like, ‘I have a great idea. Let’s put some angst in there… We thought of something at the beginning and then it completely changed by the end. But, it still kept the overall message that we were trying to convey,” said Evangelios.
Some of the showcased pieces were quite abstract and gave the performers the space to add their own meaning to the performance. While learning the dances, performer Allegra Lee ’27 found the constantly changing stories challenging yet also unique, as her interpretation of the dance changed along with them.
“We had a lot of stories being told… [For one of the pieces,] we interpreted it as a spy thing, cause it was a spy vibe I feel like, but all of them had distinct vibes and ideas… As we’re rehearsing, we’re hearing the story. As we start learning more moves of the dance and then when it all comes together, we can take a minute and go, ‘Oh, there’s the entire picture.’ We see the story now, but it was a mystery [before],” said Lee.
Similarly, audience members also had the opportunity to interpret the dances in their own way. Performer Ava Shu ’27 hoped that the audience would take away various messages based on their background and experiences.
“A lot of the audience has different interpretations of the dance than we do, because some of them were probably alive in 1973. So, I don’t know what ideas specifically they have, but I hope it made some of them think back to those times and remember some of the things that were popular in that time period or things that were big,” said Shu.
Performer Eliza Francis ’26 emphasized the dual messages behind the performance. She noted the importance of the historical context of 1973 specific to Andover, while also expressing a personal aspiration of hers.
“I think our teachers would like to say they take away the celebration of 1973, obviously a very important year in the history of Andover. But I think on a personal level, I want people to take away the joy of dancing and that it can be for anyone of any level, and everybody should get involved,” said Francis.
Francis’ sentiment underscored a deeper message of inclusivity and accessibility within the realm of dance. She encouraged others, regardless of skill level or background, to engage with the art form.
“I hope you all enjoyed it and even if you’re not a dancer, you can still consume dance because it’s for everybody. It’s not like a high-brow art; it’s for anyone to enjoy,” said Francis.
