Arts Student of the Week-Aliyah Backus

As both a featured performer and student dance director for Niwot High's upcoming production of "Mamma Mia", senior Aliyah Backus doesn't have a lot of leisure time these days. But the talented dancer is gaining a new appreciation for her craft, and picking up valuable skills along the way.

"I'm learning more and more with every single rehearsal that we have," Backus said of her new role on the stage. "It's difficult, especially with the fact that I'm in a lot of the numbers that I'm teaching people. I think it'll definitely be worth it in the end, and I'm really excited to see the results."

Backus has been dancing seriously since 4th grade, and is a veteran of the Niwot High stage, with roles in "The Brothers Grimm," "The Addams Family," and "Little Shop of Horrors." Last fall, she appeared as pirate sidekick Smee in the school's production of "Peter and the Starcatcher," where she made her first foray into dance composition.

"There was a section in one dance where it was silent and there was just the piano," she recalled. "Our choir director suggested that we have some choreography in there, and I volunteered to do it. So I got the opportunity to do two eight-counts."

That caught the attention of Mrs. Wainshal, Niwot's theater director, who then asked Backus to help out with choreography for the spring musical.

"I jumped at the opportunity," the senior said. Though a little uneasy at first, she admitted, the support of cast members and her fellow student directors, notably Maddie Stapp, has been a welcome boost.

"I did not really have that much experience personally teaching people dance," she said. "I had just seen all of my teachers do it, and then I had to go based off of that... So that's been a little bit of an obstacle that I've been trying to overcome."

According to Mrs. Wainshal, Backus seems to have cleared that obstacle.

"Aliyah is such a hard worker, especially when it comes to dance," she wrote in an email interview. "...[F]or our production of 'Mamma Mia,' she has worked tirelessly to help choreograph numbers and serve as a role model in rehearsals. She helps lead warm up and is always patient when assisting others with choreography."

Backus will also be playing the role of Tanya in "Mamma Mia," and play rehearsals occupy most of her time. When she's not preparing for a show, she is a member of a competitive dance team outside of school, and volunteers for National Honor Society. Backus is also active in Niwot's hip-hop club, which went on hiatus in 2020, but was revived by NHS English teacher Ashley Mouw, who is also assisting on Mamma Mia.

"I'm very thankful for everything that she's done," Backus said. "She's one of the people I look up to the most."

Mamma Mia runs at Niwot High March 3-6.