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BGHS Expressions raise money to hit the road
To fund the team's travel costs, BGHS Expressions team members participated in a bunch of fund-raisers this summer. Jim VanDerBosch and Mitchell Janca worked the Buffalo Grove Farmer's Market Aug. 26. | Dan Luedert~Sun-Times Media
THE FALL SHOW
The Expressions will present their fall feature at 7 p.m. Sept. 12 in BGHS’ Miller Theater, 1100 W. Dundee Road. The group asks for a $3 donation from adults and $1 donation from students.
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Updated: September 6, 2012 12:02PM
BUFFALO GROVE — As the unofficial fund-raising season comes to a close, Buffalo Grove’s show choir is preparing to face some long-standing challenges — both on stage and in funding its busy travel schedule.
The Expressions song-and-dance troupe spent the summer doing a variety of activities to generate the revenue it will need for the 2012-13 school year, said Pam Dahms, publicity chair for the Buffalo Grove Choral Guild. The fund-raising efforts ranged from car washes to bake sales at local farmers markets.
The group will put on its fall semester showcase performance Sept. 12, then spend the early autumn preparing for its Nov. 10 cabaret show.
“We never want to start off a new year where we ended the previous year, and that can be difficult,” said director Deborah Utley. “Our goal every year is to make it the best ever, and I think this year has that potential.”
Both of the fall performances will help fund the group’s winter travel schedule, Dahms added.
“Lots of fun things are coming,” Dahms said. “Show choir costs a lot of money, especially if you have a very successful program, which we’re proud to have.”
This year’s group features 42 singers and dancers, a 13-piece band and four crew members. The group spent one July weekend at a retreat to learn the two ballads and two choreographed dances it will display next week.
Jennifer Dahms, a sophomore singing soprano, and Pam’s daughter, said her freshman year of Expressions was both exciting and challenging. It was an experience she’s eager to repeat.
“It’s the best thing I’ve ever been a part of,” Jennifer Dahms said. “It’s a really good bonding experience.”
The Expressions will travel in February to Auburn, Ind., for a competition, and will also appear in downstate Zion in January and at the Chicagoland Showcase at Hersey High School in March. Later in March, the group will make its first appearance at Wheaton Warrenville South High School’s annual event.
