through life Senior Madison Ceurter dove head first into the theater world of Harding. SSeniorathletic training major Madison Ceurter danced competitively before she transferred to Harding in spring 2017. Ceurter majored in dance at her previous school and said though shewas not in a social club yet, she knew she wanted to continue dancing by participating in Spring Sing. Ceurter was passionate about dance and choreography but could not direct a Spring Sing show until she joined a social club. Her junior year, after joining women's social club Ju Go Ju, she directed the women's social clubs Ju Go Ju and Ko Jo Kai, men's social club Sub T-16, and friends show. She said she gained valuable insight into herself and her ocial club from the yearlong process. "Honestly, all of Ju Go Ju really came together to help the show come to life," Ceurter said. "That sense of togetherness and hard work from members of all ages gave the show the edge it needed to earn runner-up overall." As a director for the 2019 show, Ceurter spent a lot of time with faculty involved with Spring Sing. Early into the spring 2019 semester, Dottie Frye, assistant professor of theatre, said she saw something pecial in Ceurter and asked if she was interested in continuing her career in student productions. In fall 2019, Ceurter choreographed the Homecoming musical, "Matilda," and performed a small supporting role. Ceurter also choreographed the ensemble for the 2020 Spring Sing show. She said the transition from dancer to choreographer was a continual learning experience throughout the whole process. "We had rehearsal every night, but she did so much work outside of that as well," sophomore Emily Whitehorn, a member of the "Matilda" production, said. "She's a great teacher, whichis hard to come across a lot of times. It's one thing to be able to choreograph, but it's another thing to be able to teach people well -- people who haven't danced their whole life and make it sharp and clean." Senior Justice Laws watched Ceurter's transition from director to choreographer throughout summer and fall 2019. Laws said he was impressed with how Ceurter took charge of the responsibilities they shared coming into the 2019-20 school year. "I think the biggest way I have seen Madison grow is with the way she has been able to slowly, but surely, get closer to the cast," Laws aid. "It is a lot easier to teach people you are comfortable with, so it's been really cool to see how she's been able to connect more with the cast throughout the past few weeks." Ceurter said she planned to pursue athletic training, ideally with athletes involved in competitive dancing. She said her love for the sport grew throughout her junior and senior year, and she continued to learn with each rehearsal. story by Everett Kirkman people 121
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