Mr. East choreographers share an inside-look at preparations for performances

Gabrielle Levine and Stella Kim

April 2, 2026

The choreographers for Mr. East pose together at the doors of the auditorium. From left to right: Rachel Rosenberg (’26), Gabby Koren (’26).

Mr. East choreographers, Rachel Rosenberg (’26) and Gabby Koren (’26), are hard at work preparing for the annual charity performance on April 16 at Cherry Hill High School West’s Old Auditorium. The theme of this year’s eight-person performance, selected by the four chairpeople, is Hollywood. In this Q&A session, Rosenberg and Koren share details on what preparing the contestants looks like behind the scenes.

Q&A: Mr. East choreographers

Gabrielle Levine and Stella Kim

Q: How do you plan and prepare the choreography while balancing the different acts and personalities of competitors?

A: Gabby: We have a lot of experience doing this from the spirit week dance, where there’s over a hundred people, so doing this with a group of eight boys is a little bit easier.

Rachel: Spirit-week-dance-wise, we have done it for four years. Some of the people have already done it, so we know their personalities. I feel like we will create things, and if there are things that are bigger that they may want to do, then we will add that.

Gabby: Yeah, catering to what they want because at the end of the day it’s their performance.

Rachel Rosenberg (’26) poses in front of the auditorium doors. (Melanie Pedersen)

Q: What will a typical practice day look like?

A: Rachel: It definitely depends on their availability, but we're gonna try to do as many people as possible [during practice]. But when we're teaching it, the dance is like six-ish minutes long, and [the boys] each have their [Hollywood] character. They're each of the Hollywood characters, like someone's Spider Man or someone's Luke Skywalker. In the dance, there's 15 seconds of a theme song for each of their characters…like a little spotlight of their character. We'll go individually with teaching that part. We're probably gonna post videos on Google Classroom… but I think trying to teach them won't be that bad-- compared to spirit week dance. The ones that are misbehaving when we teach them, they're annoying, but they probably won't be doing Mr. East. The ones that are well behaved are the ones doing the show. So, it'll be a little bit easier to teach them.

Gabby: Also, in terms of individual dances…the overall chairpeople [are] more focused on the individual acts. We're gonna handle everyone more so in a group setting, like all of them together.

Q: What is the biggest challenge you have faced or predict?

A: Rachel: I think getting them to remember it formations-wise.

Gabby: They also have their own individual acts and there’s so many different parts that they’re going to have to remember so we just hope that they prioritize [learning it].

Gabby Koren (’26) poses in front of the auditorium doors. (Melanie Pedersen)

Q: What is something you think people may not know goes on behind the scenes of choreographing Mr. East?

A: Gabby: A lot of back and forth.

Rachel: Definitely a lot of moving things around. They have their Hollywood characters and sometimes they may change it. Then, for the overarching theme the songs were hard to decide and what order it was.

Gabby: There's a lot of like discussion when changing stuff. It’s a lot like spirit dance…but it's a little different, because it's just us two now. We're obviously best friends, so we're able to come up with it easier.

Rachel: I think it's easier for me and Gabby to do it than like if we're to be two strangers, or people that haven't taught a dance before… I think we’re a good fit for it.

Q: How have you guys prepared for the choreography this year?

A: Rachel: We have the soundtrack made and most of the choreography made. We are trying to make it slower at first, and maybe if they think they can do a little bit more [or] if it's too easy for them, then we will make it a little bit harder. We are also asking other people’s opinions on the soundtrack and the dances.

Q: What are you guys most excited for people to see?

A: Rachel: I'm probably most excited for…the middle of it [and] the group dance [where] they're all spotlighted. I think it'll be cool to see…them dress up in their character. So, for like 15 seconds [they have their own] spotlight [and] get to do whatever [they] want.

Gabby: We're excited to showcase their personalities outside of their characters with their special parts. We think that it's gonna be a real crowd pleaser.

Countdown to Mr. East

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About the Contributors

Gabrielle Levine, Eastside Editor-in-Chief

Gabby is a senior and an Editor-in-Chief this year. When she isn’t working on Eastside, she can be found blasting Hamilton or Taylor Swift, binging Scandal or hanging out with her friends. She is so excited for another year on Eastside!!

Stella Kim, Eastside Features Editor

Stella Kim is a junior and a Features Editor for Eastside. At East she is involved in SGA, DECA, and Model UN. Outside of school, she loves to support her AAPI community and spend time with her dog Sunday. She loves to meet new people, try new foods, and live life to the fullest. Stella is super excited to grow more this year with Eastside!

Melanie Pedersen, Eastside Photo Editor

Melanie is a junior and Photo Editor who, to no surprise, loves taking photos! You’ll find her at sports games or music events, reporting photos back to Eastside and the Yearbook. Besides that, she is the president of Interact Club and is involved in DECA, SGA, Peer Leaders, and she plays both soccer and golf for East.