As the Cranford High School Dance Academy gears up for their trip to the Regional High School Dance Festival in Norfolk, Virginia, we congratulate juniors Charlotte DiPaolo and Sara Phillips on their acceptance into the festival’s exclusive showcase. 

The dancers’ duet has been selected out of hundreds of dances submitted from along the East Coast. Set to the song “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye, the dance explores themes of anger, confusion, and guilt left behind after a bond is broken. 

“We both love this song and love to tell stories,” said Charlotte. “We wanted to do something different from anything done before.” After performing at the Dance Academy’s winter showcase, it was clear they had achieved their goal. The duet combined unique movement qualities with pure emotion that, alongside the song’s intensity, deeply resonated with the audience. Viewers were left in awe, and the performance became an unforgettable moment, praised for weeks afterwards. 

The CHS Dance Academy was beyond thrilled when the girls’ selection was announced. Having seen the dance develop over weeks of hard work, members knew their recognition was well deserved. The program looks forward to seeing Sara and Charlotte shine on stage as they represent the Dance Academy and Cranford High School at the regional level.