In preparation for the annual Upper School dance production themed “Peace, Love, Dance,” teachers and students hurry to finish choreography, choose music, and clear some time out of their busy schedules.

The vibrant colors of the posters, flyers, and forms float around school in an excited scramble before auditions this Saturday as faculty and dancers prepare for the event.

For veterans, the annual dance production has become a scheduling staple. Madison Tomihiro (10), a JV Dance Troupe member, plans to help out at Saturday’s auditions, as requested by Upper School JV dance coach Amalia De La Rosa.

“Ms. Amalia asked us to help others and to serve as an example for the dancers at the audition,” Madison said.

After years of teaching dance, Karl Kuehn, Upper School choreographer and teacher, explains how the preparations for the production are almost down to a science.

“We have selected a theme and announced auditions, and once we have auditions, we will place dancers in routines and begin rehearsals,” he said.

Kuehn expects most aspects of the production preparation to be similar to years’ before, and expects a similar number of signups this year, between 100 and 130.

The selected student choreographers this year, juniors Darby Millard, Noel Banerjee, Jacqui Villarreal, and Erika Olsen, are eager to immerse themselves in all aspects of dance.

Darby explained that while excited, she was anxious about creating a dance she can be proud of and underestimated the rigors of choreographing.

“It’s a lot more challenging than I imagined. To be honest, I’m very nervous and intimidated by the process, mainly because I don’t want to mess anything up,” she said. “This piece is my own work, and I have never done anything like this before. Although I’m just a junior student choreographer, I’m quite ambitious.”

Students interested in participating are required to turn in their forms, available outside the dance room, before this Saturday’s auditions.

Rehearsals for the dance production will begin the week of September 23.