On Saturday, February 7, the Richard Perry Theatre became the epicenter of dynamic student creativity as dancers from Grades 7 to 12 filled the stage with original choreography. From intimate solos to high-energy group pieces, each performance complemented the program’s theme of “Dancing Through Nature.” 

Afternoon of Student Choreography 2026

This year’s Afternoon of Student Choreography (ASC) was directed by Akeelah Binns ’26 and Eden Golomb ’26. With support from Performing Arts Department Chair Ashley Hacker and Upper School Dance faculty member Sam Turner, the Poly community was invited to attend the event which also benefited Dance to Unite, a NYC-based nonprofit whose mission is to use dance as a vehicle to teach and to celebrate cultural diversity. 

Poly Prep’s annual ASC celebrates student choreographers who design, rehearse, and present their own works, bringing together a dazzling array of music and dance genres that highlight individuality, collaboration, and the power of movement to express themselves. Many of the dancers and choreographers are in Poly’s Excellence in the Arts Certificate program.

A Note from the Artistic Co-Directors 

Welcome to the Afternoon of Student Choreography

We are Akeelah Binns ’26 and Eden Golomb ’26, the co-directors of this production, who have worked with our artistic team, consisting of Eve Harris ’26, assistant director, and Jenesis Bartholomew ’27 and Brianna Sylvain ’27, production managers, to make 2026’s ASC a reality. We are extremely grateful for the support and contribution of the members of our artistic team and Mr. [Sam] Turner, who has guided us with patience and inspired us with his dedication to both the art and his students every step of the way.

The process of creating a student-led show, from the choreography and sound to the lights and direction, has been no simple task. However, each year our community rises to the challenge. Over the past four years of participating in this production, we have watched Poly dancers take time out of their busy schedules to help fellow students learn choreography, students—who may have never met each other before—cheer enthusiastically for their peers onstage, and, ultimately, a community comes together to celebrate dance and each other. 

This year, we are proud to introduce the theme “Dancing through Nature.” Each piece in this production focuses on an aspect of the natural world that the choreographer would like to celebrate and explore through movement, costume choices, and the message in their artistic statement. As we are living in a time when the natural world is rapidly degrading, we would like to use this show as an opportunity to explore the wonders of our world that we often take for granted. From contemporary and hip-hop pieces to solos and group dances, our classmates have developed their technical abilities and found outlets to express their creativity and unique perspectives through movement.

View the ASC 2026 program.