“Say what you wanna say and let the words fall out” echoed through the halls of the new Academic Center at the Grand Opening on April 13. Upper School students saw a music video celebrating the opening of the new Academic Center at the Upper School meeting on April 10.

The video, made by Archer Communications, features the Unaccompanied Minors singing Sara Bareilles’ hit song “Brave.” The sophomore dance troupe, senior dancers and middle school musical cast are also featured. The video showcases areas of the new building and relates to the word of the year, courage.

Eleventh-grade dance captain Kelsey Thompson was in charge of choreographing the dance, which took place in the renovated Black Box. Theater teacher Reed Farley came to Thompson for help with the video.

“He played the music for me, which was sung by the a cappella group. I quickly threw together a couple of eight-counts. They said they wanted something sexy and fresh. I did my best to meet their vision,” Thompson said. 

After Thompson choreographed the dance, sophomores and a few seniors performed it. To mark the celebration, Archer had professional makeup artists and hair stylists come to help the dancers get ready. They splattered neon paint on the students’ faces and clothing.

“We got to miss our last two periods of the day and got splattered with paint from these [two makeup artists]. It was really cool because with the lighting and the paint on us it was unique to be in the new Black Box,” sophomore Tove Jegeus said. “[We showed] our spirit for Archer. It was really cool just to get to be in it.”

Andrea Locke, head of the dance department, decided that the 10th-grade class should do the dance because they focus on hip-hop. According to Locke, communications had the idea of the black light effect with the neon paint.

“They wanted to show some of the new architecture but also the spirit that the song has which is so empowering,” Locke said. 

Junior Arianna Miller said that the video moved her to tears.

“Watching Kennede sing and watching the new building was really emotional for me. I have been a part of the Archer community since seventh grade,” Miller said. “We have had some ups and downs with construction, but overall the video was so uplifting and powerful.”