For Rebecca Robertson, 17, the moment came last summer when she was at a concert.
As Robertson looked around, she realized the power the music had to make everyone feel joy at the same time.
The moment for Caitlin Walsh, 18, was slightly different. It came as a feeling of deja vu.
Both girls, seniors at Judge Memorial Catholic High School, choreographed their "moments" into dances for the upcoming "Moments" Spring Dance Concert 2007 on March 22-24. Each dance is themed to reflect a specific moment in time, said Jeanette Sawaya, Judge Memorial dance director.
One dance is about the moment someone floated on the Great Salt Lake. Another is one student's rush of emotion at her father's funeral after he died of AIDS when she was only 4. Another is famous movie moments and involves 30 couples.
"Choreographers had to submit proposals based on a specific moment in time," Sawaya said.
Auditions were held in November and rehearsals started in January. This year, 11 student choreographers put together numbers for the show.
"I always enjoy seeing the student choreographers' work come together," Sawaya said. "I love seeing them grow and come up with their own ideas of what to do. It's very exciting."
Robertson said choreographing has been educational. "I've learned it's extremely important to be prepared for rehearsal. If you're not prepared, it sets you so far back the next day," she said, noting good communication is also essential.
Walsh said she also learned something new, although this is her third time choreographing. "I had to learn what is entertaining," she said. "It's hard to inspire (my dancers) to (practice), but when they have an audience, they'll perform."
In addition to the student-choreographed pieces, guest choreographers, including professionals from both Repertory and Odyssey dance theaters and Terri Siere, an actor/dancer from New York City, also contributed dances to the show.
Another highlight is the return of Tom Delgado, the longtime theater director at Judge Memorial, to do the lighting for the show. Delgado is pursuing his master's degree at the Yale School of Drama.
"For me after all these years the thing that's most exciting is how many people want to be involved, even having Tom come back from New York," Sawaya said. "He had to ask permission to come back and get time off from his program to come. That's truly an honor."
The Judge Memorial Catholic High School "Moments" Spring Dance Concert 2007 will be in the school auditorium, 650 S. 1100 East. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for students and seniors. The community is invited to attend the performance.
E-mail: twalquist@desnews.com