L
I
Metro
TEENS
Fashion Statement
Far left:
David Weintraub, 17, and
Ashley Simmons, 18, of
West Bloomfield practice
their poses.
Left, from top to bottom:
Teacher Julie Zalla gives
instruction at a rehearsal.
Maxx Carney, 17, and
Jordan Shifman, 16, of
West Bloomfield test out
their dance moves.
Kellie Kaplan, 17, of West
Bloomfield gives fellow
students some direction.
WBHS teens learn by
running the show and
strutting the runway.
Sammi Haber
I Special to the Jewish News
A
t West Bloomfield High
School, an annual
highlight of an already
busy school year is the student
spring fashion show.
Now in its seventh year, the
show will be held at 7 p.m.
Friday, March 17, in the school
auditorium. Teachers Julie Zalla
and Lisa Sallen, along with 17
junior and senior directors, will
offer the usual runway fare plus
dancing and audience involve-
ment.
Students began working on
the show last summer, choosing
a theme and receiving clothing
and accessory donations from
about 20 local stores.
This year's theme, "All is Fair
in Love and Wardrobe," was
chosen by student merchandise
director Jillian Blitz, a senior.
"Choosing a theme isn't easy
because it has to be creative,
original and very specific," Blitz
said. "My dad works in advertis-
ing, so we were able to brain-
storm together and come up with
the theme."
All of Zalla's fashion merchan-
dising and fashion production
students have the opportunity to
receive extra credit by securing
store donations, including prizes
for the raffle tickets, clothes for
the models, and services that
include hair styling, make-up
and nails for models the day of
the show.
The students set a hectic pace.
One week before the show, direc-
tors need to arrange clothing fit-
tings for the models, make salon
appointments and perfect all
numbers in the show. The day of
the show, directors need to arrive
at least a few hours early to set
up and make sure everything is
running smoothly.
•
"As head student director
[with senior Hannah Gross], it's
my responsibility to oversee the
productivity of all the commit-
tees and make sure everything is
running smoothly, while easing
the stress of producing an entire
show. It's a lot of work but it is an
amazing experience that I will
take with me in the future,' said
senior Rachel Feinberg.
Many students auditioned, yet
only a select few will become
models in the show. Other stu-
dents are chosen to dance in
between numbers or to model in
the prom segment of the show.
"Directors are chosen from an
application based on experience
in fashion and dance in and out
of school;' Zalla says. "Models are
chosen through separate boys
and girls tryouts based on poise,
past modeling and dance experi-
ence, personality and ability to
walk."
These 17 directors are split
into committees to make sure
every aspect of the fashion show
is of high quality.
The merchandise commit-
tee takes care of clothing and
is run by Blitz, 12, with senior
Nicole Marsch and junior Jordan
Shifman. The modeling commit-
tee and choreographing com-
mittees work hand in hand in
More fun photos: JNonline.us.
making up routines for the show.
Directors are junior Jessica Gold,
and seniors Kellie Kaplan and
Lindsay Shane. Seniors Michelle
Lankowsky, Veronica Rubens and
Alex West run the promotion
committee that advertises the
show. Juniors Alana Epstein and
Sammi Haber run the hospitality
committee, which organizes raf-
fle prizes and food for the show-
and all dress rehearsals.
Models work nearly as hard
as the student directors do, and
have practiced for hours after
school. Modeling is definitely a
learning experience for both the
girls and boys in the show.
"Being a model in the show
both this year and last year has
proven to be the best activity that
I have participated in through-
out my high school career:' says
model Maxx Carney, a senior.
For the last five years, the fash-
ion show has sold out, drawing
more than 700 people. Proceeds
go to the WBHS senior class, the
dance and fashion departments,
and Our Children's Fund char-
ity. Over the past seven years,
the show has raised more than
$18,000 for all these causes com-
bined.
Tickets are $5 and will be sold
at the door.
Sammi Haber is a junior at
West Bloomfield High School and
also was involved in the fashion
show last year.
March 16 2006
29