Last weekend’s Andover Dance Festival (ADF) lit up the Pan Athletic Center with a vibrant showcase of styles, from traditional Chinese dances to tap, jazz, and contemporary fusions. Student choreographers played a central role in shaping performances that were not just technically impressive, but deeply personal. With lights beaming and hearts full, dancers took to the stage to express joy, nostalgia, identity, and growth, mostly through pieces they had created themselves. Each routine reflected hours of practice, teamwork, and introspection, transforming the stage into a space where movement told stories words could not.
Adelyne Liu ’28 reflected on the joy and growth that came with choreographing her own duet for the first time. Performing both with Asian Performing Arts Club (APAC) and in a duet with Isabelle Huang ’28, Liu noted how the support from peers was essential to her experience.
“We went through a lot of different versions, at one point we had around five versions of the same choreography. It was a lot of work, but I learned so much from Isabella… about how to voice ideas respectfully and collaboratively within a group. My favorite part was the energy from all the dancers. Even when the audience was quiet, people backstage were cheering us on from the wings. Hearing them made me feel more confident and motivated to dance my best,” said Liu.
Michelle Chen ’25, a graduating senior and longtime member of APAC, described her final ADF as an emotional milestone, one shaped by years of dedication, deep friendships, and personal growth. Chen saw this festival as not only the culmination of her time at Andover but also as the celebration of the bonds she had forged along the way.
“Especially with APAC, I’ve been doing it for four years straight, so this ADF was just tying it all together. [Although] we really pushed ourselves technique wise for this performance, being able to be on stage with my APAC family for the last time was really special. Before the performance, we all got up into a group and gave each other a giant hug, and then we started singing to the music backstage…it was definitely a special moment.” said Chen
Yumi Lai ’27 echoed the festival’s spirit with heartfelt reflection, emphasizing how the performance served as a farewell to the seniors who had shaped her Andover experience. For Lai, the show was more than just a stage appearance, it was a tribute to shared memories and mentorship.
“I was really soaking up every practice, rehearsal, and performance that I’ve had with them this year. I was a little bit nervous [before we went on stage] but I knew that five out of the seven of us were seniors so I did not want to worry about messing up a move and instead just wanted to enjoy my last few moments performing with them. In Blue Strut, [we danced to] I Want to Go [By Britney Spears] which is a super uplifting song, which made it so that we weren’t saying goodbye in a sad way.” Lai stated that “dancing with these people has really made my journey at Andover so far so memorable. I hope to pass on their positivity and creativity next year,” said Lai.
Audience members, too, felt the festival’s power. Nevada Charity ’26, who had performed in ADF at one point, was struck by the creativity showcased in this year’s show. Each dancer had deep emotional connections to their pieces, allowing for a level of diversity that represented the multifaceted nature of dance as an art form.
“This ADF had a very wide range of performers from single performances, duets to whole groups. Every single piece performed was incredible and they all showcased different aspects of what dance can be. There’s so many different kinds of movements that can be interpreted as dance, and ADF does an amazing job of showcasing them. It really highlighted a certain art form that felt very individual. At the end of the show, it felt like we all left with a greater appreciation for the talent and effort of these performers because seeing them doing what they are truly passionate about was incredible.”
From the audience’s cheers to the dancers’ final bows, ADF 2025 proved to be more than just a showcase. It was a celebration of tradition, experimentation, friendship, and the courage to take the stage together, one count, one breath, one beat at a time.
