Grove City College is forging ahead with a COVID-19-safe version of its signature dance show Orchesis.
The theme of this year’s show – “Orchesis Together” – reflects, perhaps, the College’s efforts this year to provide an in-person, on-campus experience for students despite the coronavirus pandemic. Orchesis – Greek for “to dance” – has been a Grove City College tradition for decades. It draws student dancers from all majors, some with vast experience and others new to dance. It is usually a highlight of the fall semester, but was postponed this year due to pandemic restrictions.
All dancers will practice social distancing and be masked, but not like the television show, Orchesis Dance Company leader Gabby Ross ’21, a senior from Worthington, Ohio, said.
“We held a strict social distancing policy all throughout the rehearsal process. This meant that the choreographers were not allowed to have dancers touch one another – as in a ballroom or partnering dance – and the dances were created to be completely socially distanced. Masks will be a mandatory part of every costume and we have purchased tan dance masks for the cast,” she said.
This year’s company is comprised of 26 student dancers and the show features 11 dances, all of them choreographed by students.
The show will be performed at 7 p.m. Feb. 4 through 6 in Crawford Auditorium on campus for an audience of students that will be limited to a quarter of the hall’s capacity. Each performance will be livestreamed at www.gcc.edu/livestream. No one outside of the campus community will be admitted.