“An Excellent Display of Talent and Honed Skill”: Evening of Dance Review

“I LOVE GAMBLING!” That’s what senior dancer Regan Bobich had to say about her solo dance piece “You Always Quit Right Before You Win Big.” This past weekend was Elmhurst University’s bi-annual Evening of Dance showcase in the Mill Theatre, and came out swinging, selling out both nights of performance.

Bobich’s piece was “an ode to the ONE TIME I won a lot of money,” there’s not much more description than that, but it says more than enough. The piece, set to Steely Dan’s “Chain Lightning,” is a fluid and groovy jazz solo, yanking the audience’s attention and dragging it with her like the titular “chain.”

The good vibes keep rolling with Amy Lyn McDonald choreographing the piece “Syncopated Sextet,” set to “Bank That,” by Too Many Zooz and Thumpasaurus. The tap-dancing ensemble grooved their way around the stage to the exciting music as lights flashed behind them. The wail of trumpets and saxophones in the background reinforcing the snapping and slapping of tap shoes.

The entire evening was just bright and flashy entertainment though, “Back to Barre,“ choreographed and performed by Phoenix Bierbrauer and Regan Bobich, is an exploration of the fleeting happy moments, and recognizing how important it is to enjoy it while it lasts.

“We enjoy the time we have together, even while anticipating its fleetingness,” said Bierbrauer.

The piece begins with Bobich and Bierbrauer on opposite sides of a ballet barre, before branching out and exploring the stage, inevitably returning to the barre at the end of the piece.

Bierbrauer remarked, “Eventually we come back to the barre, feeling connection and knowing that change does not mean end.”

The culmination of the showcase was “Filthy Fabulous,” featuring the jazz dance ensemble and set to Lady Gaga’s “Beautiful, Dirty, Rich.” It was a high energy number, engaging the audience as prop money rained from the sky during the final chorus, being thrown around the room and used by dancers as impromptu fans up to the very end of the showcase.

This spring’s showcase was an excellent display of talent and honed skill from EU’s performing arts. It is always a joy to see how much emotion–and how much fun–can be conveyed with just movement.

The Mill’s 2024-2025 season is not quite over yet! This weekend (May 17 and 18) are home to a series of one-act, student-directed performances.