After Pure Dance recruited friends to run sound and video for their December show due to the Alumni Memorial Union’s new Practice and Show Policy and lack of funding, they hoped to have a smoother spring rehearsal and performance process for their primary show.
But with a show a month earlier than last year, the rehearsal process became rushed, shortened from 12 to nine rehearsals.
The policy went into full effect this academic year — after a soft launch last year — and changed student performance groups’ access to technical support from one performance per semester to only one performance per academic year, calling it a “primary show.”
If groups choose to have another performance it is called their “secondary show,” and they are responsible for providing all tech, as they do not have access to the technical booth.
Pure Dance held its secondary show in the fall, using speakers borrowed from a local dance studio, had friends controlling the lights and classmates with minimal video experience streaming the show on YouTube.
“They had no experience, but they did a great job,” Pure Dance President Ally Weast, a senior in the College of Nursing, said. “They were running all of the lights, sound, and curtain.”Â
With their dedication to maintaining free admission to shows, the group had no funds to cover a secondary show with professional technicians, which would have cost around $4,000.
After adjusting to these new changes last semester, Weast received a phone call on Dec. 18 from the AMU offices.
The group’s Wednesday night rehearsal space in Weasler Auditorium — requested for the 2025-2026 academic year in summer 2025 — was scheduled for other events on all Wednesdays leading up to their show, except for two, forcing them to move rehearsals to Tuesday nights to maintain the Weasler Auditorium space.
They were offered an AMU room, but it was too difficult to dance on carpet in a room not big enough for the entire group, Weast said. Some dancers couldn’t make the Wednesday practices, so they are now left out of larger group numbers.
“[It] has been sad, because it’s my last semester, and I don’t even see some people as often, or really at all,” Weast said.
With four weeks less to rehearse, Pure lost three hours per dance, leaving them with six hours and 45 minutes. Additionally, the group had to add a rehearsal during midterms week, when they usually give dancers a break to focus on their studies. Avril Beesley, junior Pure President and a junior in the College of Communication, said adding the extra practice was the only way to make sure dancers were prepared.
With a show scheduled a month earlier than usual, Pure also grappled with another challenge this year: Friday shows.
Pure historically held Sunday shows to allow for parents, families and friends to travel to Milwaukee. Friday shows limit people’s ability to attend between school and work schedules, especially for families traveling from out-of-state, Beesley said.
The Friday shows also limit the group’s ability to recover from its final Tuesday rehearsal, which is multiple full run-throughs of the show with hair, makeup and costumes.
“First off, rehearsals are a lot of work,” Social Chair Mariah Olson, a senior in the College of Communication, said. “Then, two days out, you are dancing full out again. The week, in general, is a lot.”
Olson, Beesley and Weast all said that this year has been more stressful to coordinate rehearsals and shows compared to their previous year.
Even with increased stress and financial restraints on the group, they are dedicated to maintaining free admission for all shows.
“We want people to come and love art for free,” Beesley said.
The AMU did not respond for comment.
Pure Dance’s spring show will take place on March 27, starting at 7:30 p.m., in Weasler Auditorium. Admission is free to the public. More information about the group and the show can be found on its Instagram.
This story was written by MaryKate Stepchuk. She can be reached at [email protected].
