The solo performance of “I Need You Now” by Krista Paulsen left the audience with something to talk about at the annual Student Choreographic Showcase over the weekend.

Marita Aylen from Chicago said Paulsen’s performance was “breathtaking.” She said her full support was for her niece Frannie Callahan. She was one of the dancers of “Divine Sustenance,” a gospel dance choreographed by Jasmine Harlin, a sophomore dance major.

“I thought it was very good,” Aylen said. “They put in a lot of effort; the costumes were good and each one was unique.”

The showcase was performed and choreographed by dancers of NIU’s School of Theatre and Dance. The performers started practicing when they got back from Christmas vacation, said Rachel Maher, co-director of the showcase and a sophomore dance major.

“They started practicing during the first week of January,” Maher said. “It’s a great and fun learning experience. Everything was done by students.”

Although the students did everything on their own, Karen Williamson, faculty adviser, looked over the performance and provided guidance, Maher said.

Other performances included songs from the movie“The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” and the song “I Miss You” by Incubus.

“It gives us an opportunity to put on a live performance to show people what we’re capable of doing,” Maher said. “All the dancers were phenomenal, and every one of them is full of creativity.”