Michael McStraw ’78

There remains for me one Orchesis memory that captures that singular moment when I knew dance would fill my life. In the fall of 1977, I was cast as Fletcher in a production of ‘Jonathan Livingston Seagull,’ alongside Don Delach ’79 in the titular role. My first entrance as Fletcher was a full, powerful, low-to-the-earth run that took me across the Campus Center stage in an arc from the upstage right wing to stand next to my best friend, Jonathan, downstage left. That burst onto stage, which lasted no more than two seconds, was soaring, breathtaking, majestic, and exhilarating. With that entrance, I experienced the transformational intersection of commitment, practice, purpose, and freedom that is the essence of dance. I am forever grateful for Orchesis and the treasured opportunities the organization provided.