On stage carved pumpkins give off an eerie glow, and some of the audience has got the chills. Assistant Principal Ruth Jurgensen closes her book of spooky tales after narrating three stories. Kids in Halloween spirit crowd beside her chair, listening intently to the mysteries she’s just told the audience. Suddenly Jurgensen tells them to get up, and they all scurry off stage. That’s when the first dancers, blood red light just illuminating their way, creep out from behind the curtains and under the bed.

This MX is a tradition each year around Halloween–a faculty member, in recent years Drama teacher Chris Beh, sets the mood with stories told in her spookiest voice, accompanied by listening, and costumed, lower schoolers gathered on stage. Many know and love certain of these frightful tales, and excitement rises from the audience as Jurgensen closes with “Girl with the Green Ribbon.”

After the readings are finished, those zombie-like dancers snuck on for a group piece. Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” was  the back track last year, but this year the Dance teachers decided to change it up. A remix of “Thriller” was blasted throughout the auditorium as high schoolers of all ages did their best zombie impersonations.

Dressed in several types of ripped-up shirts and other zombie related garments, hair-raising bruises all over, and blood trickling from their mouths, the dancers gritted their teeth at the audience. Several of the dancers, recognized, drew cheers-–some were unrecognizable as they spun and swayed on stage.

Right away, I was entertained by the hip twisting and the personae of the dancers. They effectively incorporated hip hop, modern, and ballet into the dance. Two groups split off on either side of the stage. I liked the contrasts between their types of dance and how they infused modern with their zombie-like movements.

But then, in the middle of the dance, the music abruptly stopped.

Heads turned, as everyone looked around, confused–but the dancers continued with their set. Their ability to persevere without tunes really impressed me, and the audience let out a roar. They went on as if nothing had changed-–and if we weren’t paying attention closely, we would’ve thought everything was normal.  The show had to go on.

Lighting shifted from dark pink to blood red to white, matching the transitions of the dance. The music still missing, the dancers slid across the stage.

And then, just as abruptly as it ceased, the “Thriller” remix was audible again, and the crowd cheered enthusiastically.  

I was already clapping as the lights went down, and the dancers all moved to the center after the finale. Hands joined, they bowed repeatedly, colored lights gleaming on their torn and tattered outfits. These dancers definitely instilled the spirit of Halloween in everyone by now, and I was already anticipating the spooky day ahead.