By Susanna Huang ’27

Mercersburg Academy is preparing for its annual Fall Dance Concert, an event that will highlight the artistry, discipline, and collaborative spirit of the school’s dance program. The Fall Dance Concert will take place on Saturday, November 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Burgin Center for the Arts’ Simon Theatre. Admission is free, and the event is open to the public. 

The concert will feature a diverse repertoire, including ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, theater dance, and hip hop performances, reflecting the breadth of talent and dedication among the student dancers.

Director of Dance Kelsy Rupp shared that this year’s fall concert, while maintaining Mercersburg’s diverse program, will bring a few playful twists. One of the highlights this year is a series of ballet variations inspired by Act II of The Nutcracker, cleverly retitled Land of Some Sweets. “I think it’s going to be really popular,” Rupp said. “There’s going to be three variations that everyone is cast within and will present as a miniature ballet within itself.”

Alongside Land of Some Sweets, the audience can look forward to two distinctive jazz pieces. “It’s kind of interesting—as somewhat of a happy accident, one of the jazz pieces has a 1960s vibe and another channels the roaring 1920s,” Rupp explained. Three hip hop performances, including a high-energy finale, will be presented, along with several contemporary works.

Rupp emphasized that, beyond choreography and training, her focus this fall has been on fostering community within the dance program. “I definitely want to focus more on team building and making sure each dancer feels connected, cared for, and valued,” she said. “The dance leaders have done an excellent job of getting everyone involved and feeling like a member of the dance family.”

Dance co-captain Renee Jin ’26 echoed that sense of unity and excitement. “We’re bringing a lot of variety, and we added another hip hop piece, which I think people are really going to enjoy.”

With a strong mix of experience, energy, and fresh faces, Rupp and the dancers are ready to bring Mercersburg’s Fall Dance Concert to life. “It’s going to be a really fun one,” Rupp promised. “We’ve got a little something for everybody.”