Held last Friday and Saturday, the Andover Dance Festival (ADF) brought together dancers from various groups across campus. From traditional Chinese Dunhuang dance to hip-hop routines, the show offered a diverse mix of performances that captivated the audience. Student choreographers were the backbone of the show, making the event a personal and meaningful experience for many.
Julia Xu ’28, one performer in the Asian Performing Arts Club (APAC), described the festival as a meaningful opportunity to share a traditional Chinese dance style with the rest of the Andover community. Having practiced since sixth grade, Xu was excited to showcase a style characterized by its precise and rhythmic movements.
“There are different types of Chinese dance from different regions across China. And this type of dance is very specific to a region of China. I believe it’s in the western area, closer to Tibet. And it’s characterized by very sharp movements and a very specific hand shape,” said Xu. Xu continued, “I think this performance was different because it was almost fully self-choreographed by members of the group…we were trying to convey sort of a sense of mysteriousness and also fear, I guess through our facial expressions and also the sharper movements.
Xu also highlighted the camaraderie and sense of community she experienced while preparing for the performance. She recalled rehearsals as being a fun and rewarding process, making many formidable bonds with others throughout the process.
“The best part was probably getting to work with the other people in the group and we just had a lot of fun during rehearsals” shared Xu. “I think my favorite moment of the show was right before we went on stage for the second show. We sort of did a little huddle and some of the co-heads gave us a pep talk. And it was just a really nice moment before we went on stage and did that performance for the last time.”
For many, ADF was just as much about the journey leading up to the performance as the show itself. Yumi Lai ’27, who performed in multiple groups—including Blue Strut, Hypnotiq, and Slam, as well as a solo—found the preparation challenging but made easier by the strong sense of team spirit.
“One of my favorite moments was from Hypno because our style is just very fun and sometimes my teammates and I would kind of exchange glances when we changed formations or moved around each other. We’re always just smiling and we’re happy to be there and we’re just in the moment at that time”
The excitement of ADF was built over weeks of rehearsals, music choices, and the thrill of seeing routines come together. Xu shared how watching the show take shape over time brought a sense of anticipation making the final performance even more rewarding.
“The rehearsal process was really great. The best part was probably getting to work with the other people in the group and we just had a lot of fun during rehearsals. Leading up to the performance, we had them around once a week and getting closer, we would just get together when everyone was free, like the week of,” she explained.
The dedication and effort put into rehearsals paid off on stage. Rachel Levitsky ’28, who attended the show to support her friends, was impressed by the diversity of performances. Levistky admired how each group brought its own unique energy, making the event dynamic and engaging.
“I liked the varying styles because at my previous school I felt like the styles were usually just ballet or they tended to be the same kind of type of dance. And I think this is a lot more interesting, like the moods were very different,” said Levitsky.
Unlike other shows, ADF offered an especially intimate atmosphere. Levistky explained how the location, Pan Athletic Center, cultivated a more immersive performance for the audience.
“This one is definitely unique, because it’s not necessarily on a stage. But it’s in Pan and Pan has really cool lighting and it’s a great stage and you can see the audience very clearly because they’re not that far away from you so I think it definitely feels more intimate, or you have a connection with the audience because just the stage is really close,” said Levitsky.
