![Setter Emma Lee (9) sets the ball to the middle during the match against Pinewood on Sept. 12. “[I’m looking forward to] getting more skilled, learning more about my position and also becoming better friends with all of my teammates, Emma said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC_4917-2-1200x795.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasnt been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but Ive had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. Theres so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesnt exist, you can build it yourself, Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“Animation just clicked in a way. I had been interested in art, but that felt different. [Animation] felt like it had something behind it, whereas previous things felt surface level. I wasnt making that crazy of things, but just the process of doing it was much more enjoyable, Carter Chadwick (22) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-16-at-9.44.08-AM-900x598.png)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and its played such a major role in who Ive become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something Im [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala (21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“Im not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that theres a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyones so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you arent going to get those championships if you arent fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
Rehearsals: Countdown to the annual dance show
Dancers run through their dance routines in preparation for the Friday and Saturday dance shows. The other performers watched their schoolmates rehearse as they waited for their own time on stage.
January 28, 2013
Music pumpin’ and dancing shoes tappin’.
Throughout the week, dancers and choreographers are rehearsing from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. everyday to perfect their routines for the annual dance show Elements of Dance taking place this Friday and Saturday.
The dancers have been working after the auditions in fall to learn their routines, and now that the week has come for the performances, they are working hard to put together the last bits of their work.
“We basically just run through the show,” Gaurav Kumar (11) said. “I’m looking forward to seeing all of the other dances.”
Though rehearsals officially began on Monday, a dress rehearsal was held last Saturday, January 26. Dancers arrived in costumes during their assigned one-hour time slots to perform their dances for the first time on stage, while a portion of the hour was dedicated to group pictures for each of the dances.
When students are not busy working on their dances, they have the option to do homework or catch up on studying, so that they are able to get as much work done as possible despite having to spend most of the afternoon rehearsing.
In addition to learning their own dances, choreographed by the dance instructors and student choreographers, dancers are required to learn a routine for the finale of the show, in which all the artists come together to perform as one.
“I love how the finale dance is able to bring us together as a dance community,” Avni Barman (10) said. “No matter how good of a dancer you are, you are able to participate, enjoy yourself, and have as much fun as everyone else.”
As a tradition, the dancers will miss a day of school and travel to the Blackford campus, Friday morning, to put on their first show for the middle schoolers.
“I like seeing the difference between the high school and middle school shows,” Noor Singh (8) said, recalling her favorite dances from last year’s show, Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay and Brick in the Wall.
The dance show will be held on Friday, February 1 at 7:30 p.m., as well as Saturday, February 2 at 2p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
