Senior Lily Grouf has been a member of Archer’s dance troupe since seventh grade and she completed her last performance in Night of Dance, March 2. As her final year performing in NOD closes, Grouf reflected on the connections and experiences that made her journey “unforgettable.”
During the rehearsal process for NOD, students choreograph and practice various dance styles, including jazz, modern and contemporary. The week leading up to the performances, dancers practice performing on stage at the Broad Theater, working on costumes, doing makeup and going through full run-throughs of the performance. The NOD performances took place Feb. 28 through March 2.
The Oracle sat down with Grouf to discuss her experiences and reflections on her final year in Night of Dance.
How long have you been dancing in general? How long have you been dancing for Night of Dance?
Lily Grouf [LG]: I have been dancing for about eight years now in total. I came here at Archer in seventh grade and have been dancing for Night of Dance since eighth grade.
Do you have any current leadership positions in NOD?
[LG]: Yes, I’m one of the costume captains. In my role, I’m responsible for choosing the costumes for the dancers and distributing them to make sure everyone has a costume that fits and are able to wear on stage.
Can you walk us through your journey with dance over the years? How has it shaped you as a person?
[LG]: I would definitely say it’s given me a lot more confidence and strength. However, when I first came here and did dancing in NOD, it was my least favorite thing to do, but later on I found a really supportive community here through dance, which has allowed me to feel a lot more comfortable dancing in front of people. In total, I feel a lot more confident and interested in who I am as a person because of my experience.
What’s one of your most memorable moments from your dance career so far?
[LG]: I would say definitely the tech weeks. I remember when I was in ninth grade and we had the show here at Archer in the courtyard, I think having those tech weeks were a good opportunity for me and my classmates to bond. Especially because it was so cold outside on stage, we all bonded over the trauma of the cold. I think also, in general, spending five hours in the dressing room with a group of girls at The Broad who are your age is really fun.
How many dances are you a part of for NOD? What style of dances are they?
[LG]: I’m in “Whispering Serpent,” which is kind of like a jazz style, “Unseen,” which is modern, “Familiar Faces,” which is contemporary and, lastly, the senior dance “Awakening,” which is part jazz and other parts of it are contemporary.
Do you have any specific emotions or thoughts running through your mind as your last year doing NOD?
[LG]: I’m very sad, but it has also been an amazing experience and one of the most transformative experiences I’ve had at Archer. I’m also really grateful because Night of Dance has helped shape me into who I am as a person, and I got a lot of really good and meaningful connections as well.
How have your peers and instructors impacted your dance journey?
[LG]: I will say my instructors, especially Ms. Locke, have shown me not to be afraid and hide myself, and she’s really helped me come out of my shell. And then my peers have just created a really safe space for me to do that. So I think, especially when I go into college next year, I know that I can put my true self out there because I have had a really great opportunity to do so here, and it’s a very good foundation.
What will you miss most about being a part of the dance team?
[LG]: I think [I will miss] all the girls I’ve been dancing with, for sure. A lot of them have been in NOD since sixth grade, but our group as a whole has been in it since ninth grade, which has been really nice. And I think just having those strong connections allow me to have girls that I know I can fall and lean on for support if I need to.
What are you most excited about for this year’s NOD performance?
[LG]: I am really excited to see the show just come together as a whole — to see all the hard work the whole dance team has put in. I’m also excited for the senior dance because I feel it builds up every year and is a way to celebrate how far we have come.
What have you learned from being a part of the dance team?
[LG]: Being part of the dance team has taught me a lot about teamwork, and the value of hard work. I’ve learned how to collaborate with others and just how to push myself past my limits. It’s also given me a creative place to express myself, while helping me build confidence on and off the stage.
