The seven seniors in the University's dance department are ready to take the world by storm, and there’s nothing anybody can do to stop them. From producing a showcase in New York City to auditioning for dance companies around the globe to pursuing opportunities in teaching, yoga and singing, the members of this unusually tight-knit class have tackled every challenge that has come their way during their time at the University ― with the poise and grace of, well, dancers.

Some have already caught a glimpse of the seniors’ talent in the first BFA concert, which took place on Nov. 18-20. Called “How Things Stand,” the show featured works by Derek Crescenti, Logan McClendon, Francesca Nieves and Allegra Romita. On Dec. 9-11, Tara Sheena, Emily Wanserski and Sadie Yarrington will display their choreography in a second concert, called “E-mails, Females and Coattails.”

The seniors held an audition during the first week of classes to select their casts — a refreshing change of pace for dancers accustomed to auditioning themselves. Each choreographer looked for different qualities in his or her dancers, whether technical virtuosity or a strong personality.

“For me, I created a piece using dancers that were all individuals, that all had something special, that all had a group dynamic as well as an individual dynamic,” Crescenti explained. “It was really exciting to see (the choreography) on their bodies because they have such technical prowess, so everything I wanted looked really cool on them.”

Yarrington decided to go in a slightly different direction, casting males who had never formally danced before ― one of whom she found dancing on the Diag ― alongside females from the Dance Department.

“All of my dancers are completely different from each other. I have dancers who are every size,” she said. “I wanted every kind of body type and every kind of dancer that I could get and see how they moved together.”

For most of the seniors, the most challenging part of the audition process was casting a limited number of dancers. Romita felt that the audition was the perfect way to get to know the department’s freshmen and was very impressed with the underclassmen in general.

“These aren’t just dancers, they’re brilliant dancers — they’re people who got into the University of Michigan,” she said. “They’re smart people, and to see them apply that is so great. They’re not just mindlessly dancing for us, but they’re thoughtful in their movement."

Armed with talented casts for their group pieces, the seniors embarked on their creative journeys and had to cope with different challenges along the way. Some of the larger difficulties for them, whether they had to do with choreography or emotional ties to the piece, were faced in their solos, which they choreographed on themselves. Each senior was required to choreograph one group piece and one solo for the group concert.

“I especially found (the solo) challenging,” McClendon said. “I just had to be honest with myself. It’s really easy for me to come up with movement for my cast to learn. It kind of keeps me on my p’s and q’s because I can’t waste these people’s time, so I have to have something for them to do. With myself, there isn’t that added pressure of someone else’s time.”

Titled “Minus One,” McClendon’s solo dance addresses his relationship with his brother, who recently joined the Navy.

In order to get an outside perspective, each choreographer chose a faculty adviser who attended rehearsals for both pieces and gave advice along the way.

Sheena’s adviser, Dance Lecturer Amy West, helped her open up to unexpected possibilities that often arise in the creative process.

“I think the best advice she gave me was to trust myself and have the understanding that my dancers knew the commitment they were making when they agreed to do my work,” Sheena said.