It is a tradition for the Night of Dance program to host a banquet, celebrating the end of a journey and the culmination of dancers coming together. At this year’s event, Head Senior Dance Captains Liv Karp (’26) and Josie White (’26) gave a final appreciation speech and handed out certificates to all the dancers. They also highlighted a few specific dancers who made a big impact on the dance community and production.
This was Emalee Magno’s (‘29) first year being a part of Night of Dance. She said she was excited to join the program because she felt like she “was being inducted into a part of Archer’s culture.” Night of Dance helped her feel more connected to the Archer community, and Magno said the banquet felt like a celebration of that experience.
“It felt like I was being immersed in the Archer community because so many special things happen there that other people would not understand,” Magno said, “so I think being part of it had just increased my relationship with the overall Archer community. It was so easy to get along with everyone. We just like keeping it real, and you feel like you can just show who you are.”
Valerie Peñaloza (‘29) has been a part of Night of Dance for three years and in the dance company for two. She said the banquet was a “beautiful” way to recognize the hard work each dancer has put into rehearsals this year.
“It spotlights all the students who’ve been in Night of Dance, and the captains just express how appreciative they are towards every single dancer,” Peñaloza said. “I feel like everyone needs a little spotlight since some people have stage fright.”
Magno said that dance classes can be intimidating because she often worries about how her skill level compares to her peers’. This especially concerned her during her first few classes; however, she said that the Night of Dance community quickly made her feel welcome.
“Since it was my first time doing Night of Dance, I could lie back and just follow along with whatever everyone else was doing,” Magno said. “I’m not the most skilled dancer either, so, it’s nice that there is such a variety of levels. It makes it pretty easy for me to fit in and learn the dances quickly and at a pace I can understand.”
One of the biggest takeaways and happiest memories from Night of Dance was the growing companionship between the dancers, Lea Goldberg (‘31) said. At the banquet, she said that she enjoyed spending time with her fellow dancers and having fun without the stress of comparison or rushing to the stage on time. She said she really valued the collaboration between her and her fellow dancers.
“I think it was the support that we all gave each other. If someone is struggling with a specific move, there are always going to be people who are going to come help them. Night of Dance helps us connect with more people and built my confidence,” Goldberg said. “The banquet really acknowledges everyone, even the parent volunteers, which is very heartwarming to finish off the year with a bang.”
