Dancing since age three is an accomplishment in itself. For freshmen Harper Stewart and Corinne St Peter, the next step in their respective 12-year journeys with dance is performing in the Evanston Dance Ensemble (EDE). Dancers from across the North Shore, including five Central Suburban League high schools, audition to make it into the show, Enid Smith, EDE artistic director, said.

The Evanston Dance Ensemble, founded in 1997, holds two shows a year featuring high school students, Smith said. The springtime performance, “Ramble On: EDE Rocks!” held performances on March 19-22 at Northwestern University, Smith said. The theme for this year’s show was all about rock n’ roll music, which musical diversity allows for dancers to show off their talents, Smith added.

“The show gives the dancers an opportunity to experience new kinds of dance through our best choreographers,” Smith said. “Within this show, there’s hip hop, tap, modern, jazz and ballet.”

Auditions and rehearsals prove to be rigorous to perfect the show, Stewart said. To prepare, dancers rehearse on weekends for four-hour increments. Though rehearsal requires hard work, it creates a unique bond between the dancers, Stewart explained. 

“I’m with other dancers so often that it’s hard not to be close with everyone in the show,” Stewart said. “It’s definitely a really fun experience.”

One of the most unique parts of performing in the EDE is the collaboration between high schools, St Peter said. As St Peter and Stewart were the only two dancers from South in the show, meeting and collaborating with talent from other high schools was a great opportunity and fosters appreciation for their collective talents, St Peter said. 

“It’s fun to meet people from different schools and see what they’re up to,” St Peter said. “Everyone is so good, so you’re surrounding yourself with a ton of other really amazing dancers. The community that you make there is just great.”