In the depths of the Owen Arts Center Basement, Adare Haas stands along the left side of the studio where the wall and barre meet. She runs through movements as the cast finds their places.

Like most of Meadows’ performing arts students, the work to perfect their craft goes beyond the classroom and continues late into the evening. For dance students, this means packed days of classes and intense evening rehearsals in preparation for the Fall Hope Show. The Hope show is the dance department’s semesterly show, running from Nov. 13 to 16.

Haas, a junior dance and business student, has been going since 9 a.m., and this 8:30 p.m. modern rehearsal is her final obligation. It’s the last thing standing between her nightly sweet treat and relaxation at home.

Carter Alexander, chair of the dance department, and special guest, Robert Battle, former artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, take their seats. Classical music booms over the speakers as “The Envelope,” choreographed by David Parsons, begins.

A man starts in the middle, holding a white, clay-looking envelope, reaching it to the sky and turning his body over and over until he pushes the envelope off in his hand.

It falls to the ground and SPLAT!

Haas and a few women eventually enter from stage left and stage right, tiptoeing a few steps forward and a few steps back. They kick out their feet and rush in, until they are surrounding two dancers in the middle and circle them.

The music is delicate, while each turn and step meets the beat. Every movement is with intention.

Haas’ face is intensely focused as the energy of the music and the piece intensifies.

The envelope continues to weave through the group’s movements. Crescendos come and go. A dancer steps forward to sing, holding a few high notes before erupting in a startling screech.

“AHHHH,” the woman belts.

The music returns to peaceful woodwinds and violin, with an ebb and flow of zany and energetic movement to match the piece’s deadpan comedic style.

In moments where Haas is between scenes, she doodles on a whiteboard along the left wall while talking with her castmates. She adds names of modern choreographers, including Battle’s, to an expansive family tree of ballet choreographers. In some way, they are all connected to Nikolaj Hübbe, the former artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet, who has visited Meadows to lead students in a ballet piece to premiere at the show.

“It’s exciting. In preparation of him coming here, our teacher Silas made this lineage,” Haas says while pointing along the whiteboard. “He tracked back from August Bournonville all the way down to us at SMU.”

At the end of the piece, Haas and a line of dancers lean on one another like a domino effect. They hold their stance and tensely wait, looking to Battle and Alexander for feedback, and are met with applause.

The dancers smile and share sighs of relief. Phew.

“So much better,” Battle says.

Battle rises from his chair, showing students how to infuse energy into their movements. He takes the envelope and jolts his body from side to side, to and from. Other students follow along, while Haas nods intently with her group as they take note of his comments. He performed this piece while training under David Parsons in Parsons Dance from 1994 to 2001.

“[One] last thing, party more!” Battle shares with enthusiasm as he wraps up his time. “This is in a really great place.”

“The Envelope” is the first dance comedy Haas has done in her expansive dance career. She looks forward to sharing her hard work from these evening rehearsals with the Meadows community.

“It’s really fun to do,” Haas says. “This one’s a little bit more fun, lighthearted and quirky.”

Her lifelong love for dance stemmed from dancing around her family’s home as a toddler, and she was enrolled in rigorous ballet and hip hop classes soon after.

“[Growing up] my teacher always said, for her, she knew she wanted to go on with dance because she couldn’t imagine not dancing anymore. The thought of not having dance in her life was unbearable,” Haas says. “That’s the same for me, so that’s how I ended up here.”

As rehearsal ends, Haas grabs her bag and shares goodbyes with her classmates. Before heading to her car, she glances at the whiteboard to see the growing dance lineage, a reminder of how far the art form stretches.

Now she’s ready for a relaxing evening at home, finishing homework, spending time with her roommates and enjoying that sweet treat.

“I switch back and forth between chocolate chip ice cream or homemade cookie dough,” Haas says. “I think I’ve earned it.”