By JENNA WISELTIER
High school seniors usually have the reputation of slacking off towards the end of the school year, especially in their extracurriculars. However, Choreo president Jordan Yearwood does not follow suit, putting in numerous extra hours preparing herself and the rest of the dance deparment for its annual recital. “Choreo has always been my favorite part of the year. It’s so great to watch the entire dance department come together as a community,” Yearwood said.
The show is comprised of student-choreographed dances, as well as others organized by Choreo adviser Ms. Corbett and Jericho Jayettes coach Casey Naab.
Yearwood’s dance career began at the Cynthia King Dance School in Brooklyn when she was 3 years old. When Yearwood moved to Long Island at age 8, she lost touch with her passion. When she entered Jericho High School her freshman year, she was able to rediscover her love for dance through the school’s dance program. Yearwood reflected on her first year in a new school. “Being new at Jericho, I felt like I didn’t fit in, and the dance department was really the only place I could call home,” she said.
Dance increases Yearwood’s self-steem. “It makes me feel confident and it’s just something that I’ve always been passionate about. It’s something I know that I can do pretty well,” she added. This is part of the reason why Jordan is so involved in Choreo. Yearwood has been a particularly active participant when it comes to choreographing her own dances for the show.
Ms. Corbett relishes the process of creating the Choreo showcase. “One of my favorites parts of Choreo is watching months of hard work and dedication come to life on stage,” she said. Corbett loves seeing the dancers express themselves by bringing their own unique personalities to the stage. Corbett sees Yearwood’s strength as a leader. She said, “Jordan brings a strong sense of leadership to our program. Her hard work and energy is contagious. Her stage presence is authentic and natural. You can’t help but smile when she’s up there! She will be missed.”
Yearwood is also admired by many of her fellow dancers. Sophomore Olivia H. said, “Jordan always puts 100 percent into every single practice. She is always so encouraging and up-lifting.” Freshman Samantha B. appreciates Yearwood’s openness. “Jordan has been very welcoming as I’ve entered high school, and her and I have built a very special bond on and off stage,” she said.
During the off-season, Yearwood participates in various extracurricular activities such as managing Jericho United, a club determined to represent the diverse community of our high school. She is also an extremely active member of the event planning committee for the Class of 2019, and she is a dedicated participant of the Project L.E.A.D. club.
Yearwood was very proud of this year’s Choreo production. “Everyone worked very hard, and we got a lot of great feedback,” she said. Yearwood’s last dance has definitely left a lasting impression.