The Elizabethtown College Dance Team (ECDT) announced that they will be hosting the first annual “Dancing with the Jays” contest, which is a spin-off of the show “Dancing with the Stars.” Each ECDT member has selected one member of the student body to be their partner in the competition. The partnered dancers will play the role of a pop culture character, such as Ice Spice or Barbie. There will even be a professors’ dance for the crowd to enjoy.
The contest will be held in Leffler Chapel and Performance Center, providing a great setup for dancing performances complete with audio and visuals to fully immerse the crowd and give the participants a memorable experience. These are important additions, as the participants are encouraged to take up the personalities of their pairings, and being able to show the crowd their energies is a way of showcasing their different talents.
“I can’t wait for the school to see everybody’s hard work that went into this show,” ECDT Social Media Manager and senior Olivia Fabiano said. “It’s been years in the making and we are so proud of everyone involved in the show both behind the scenes and on the stage. My position in ECDT is super hands-on and involved, but I like it that way.”
“Luckily my job goes hand-in-hand with my major in marketing, so I’ve been lucky enough to be able to add my work as the social media manager to my portfolios for my future,” Fabiano continued. “Marketing is my passion and what I want to do with the rest of my life, and it’s amazing to be able to combine my two favorite things, especially because it’s for ECDT, who are my family.”
The competition pairings announced so far are: Samhar Almomani ‘24 and Emma-li Peters ‘24, Will Mickulik ‘26 and Kaylee Giaquinto ‘27, Olivia Nafe ‘26 and Kaitlyn Davis ‘26, Phil Phillips ‘24 and Olivia Fabiano ‘25, Alex Lynch ‘24 and Heather Guthrie ‘24, Gavin Toy ‘27 and Emma Haab ‘26, Lindy Stoner ‘26 and Gabby Petridge ‘26, Emma Bitner ‘25 and Lauren Wallace ‘24, Merzadee Buys ‘25 and Olivia Sullivan ‘25, Neena Thomas ‘27 and Amanda Mormon ‘27, Katelyn Ritchey ‘25 and Alyssa Crane ‘25, and Lin Bangs ‘27 and Julia Perella ‘27.
The hosts have been announced as Will Rhodunda ‘24 and Mikayla Close, and the announcer is going to be Jake Moser ‘25.
The contest will be on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 at 7 p.m. The admission price is $3 for students and $5 for non-students. Student charge, check and cash payments are available. The stands will also be selling merchandise.
