Every year, the Orange Jazz Company puts on a huge performance that showcases the talents of their dancers and all the hard work they have put in. This year ‘s concert on Saturday, April 18 at 7 p.m. will be the OJC’s first year to dance without Lorna Badon, who started the Company and passed earlier this year.

Badon’s passing took a large toll on the dancers, but they didn’t let it keep them from dancing. The theme of this year’s performance is “Art in Motion.” This was the theme of Badon’s first show, so the company is using this in honor of her passing.

There is a large mix of dancers that perform this year, including sixteen girls, sixteen boys and thirty clinic dancers. The dancers rehearse from 7:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on some weekends when they learn the choreography. At rehearsals they run the show and have the boys and the clinic dancers come in at different times during the rehearsal. There are many dancers with busy schedules and it can be difficult to fit dance in for everyone.

“It’s very hard because everyone is involved outside of OJC, but it’s possible,” senior Rebecca Sanford said.

The choreography starts all the way back in the summer and the dancers prepare for a long time, learning from choreographers from all over the country. At times, the different moves can be fast and difficult for the dancers. Badon’s  passing happened after the season had started, but the dancers were determined to get through that difficult time and keep going.

“We are a family and we can get through anything together,” Sanford said.

Sanford said her fondest memory of this season was learning the tribute dance for Badon a few weeks ago – a performance which made the girls much closer.

“The most important part of the performance is to leave everything on the stage and dance for the Lord and in memory of Mrs. Lorna,” Sanford said.