The Plain Local dancers are starting to prepare for their last recital in May. This is an emotional yet exciting performance for the dancers.

“We begin preparing for the recital right after the musical in February, so it takes about two months to fully prepare,” Baldwin said.

The dancers begin learning choreography and practicing as soon as the musical ends to ensure lots of practice can take place. Without this amount of time, the dancers could feel unprepared and not give their best performance.

“I prepare myself by making sure I go over all the routines before class, I also make sure to be aware of changes that are made,” Byrd said.

Dance requires extra practice at home and in the classroom to fully prepare the dancers and ensure their absolute best performance. With three shows, many in the community see this show, so they must know what they are doing.

“I prepare myself by making sure I know all of the choreography, learning which facial expressions best fit the dance and music, learning how to properly portray the character that we are playing, and making sure that I am aware of all the extra details that are going into each dance such as props, costumes, etc.,” Snyder said.

The recital includes a lot of preparation including costumes and what props they may use. Knowing the choreography is one thing, but being able to interpret the music and dance and put on a good show is another.

“I want to make this recital my best one yet because it’s my last one, so I’m going to try to practice as much as possible,” McClellan said.

Most seniors want to put in a lot of practice to make this show their best one yet. All dancers want to make it their best show, but seniors only have one chance left, so it’s special for them.

“After being with these girls in this environment for so many years, it’s going to be so hard to just leave,” Severson said.

For the senior dancers, this is an emotional experience. Through this program, they have made friends and memories that are worth a lifetime. The program also creates a family bond between the dancers, creating an optimistic atmosphere. Being able to experience the May recital one last time is a very cherished experience.

“I can’t believe it’s my last recital. I’ve been dancing in Plain Local for almost 15 years, and I can’t believe my time here is coming to an end,” McClellan said.

Tickets for the performance can be purchased here.