Harry Potter, Malala Yousafzai, Jay Gatsby and Winnie the Pooh all walk into a theater. Rather, they dance into a theater.  The intermediate and advanced dance classes will perform dances inspired by a range of literature in their upcoming showcase called “Literary Movement.”

“Literary Movement” will be performed on Dec. 3 and 4 at 7 p.m. in the Alan Harvey Theater. Tickets cost $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. The showcase is appropriate for children.

Dance teacher and director Amy Moorhead chose the theme for the showcase after reading “I Am Malala” by Malala Yousafzai last summer.

“I was moved to create a dance piece in praise and celebration of young women who risk their lives to pursue their education,” Moorhead said. “I decided it would be interesting to have all the dance students do something similar, that is, let a literary work motivate their choreography.”

Junior Sutter Kraetzer said that the showcase is a mix of familiar and unfamiliar literature.

“It has made me more aware about literary pieces that are out there,” Kraetzer said. “There’s a bunch of pieces that bring so much emotion and really make you think about things you wouldn’t have thought about otherwise.”

Junior Claire Reichle, who will participate in the showcase as both a choreographer and a dancer, was jazzed with the “Literary Movement” theme.

“I was excited because there are so many possibilities with books, poetry and written word,” Reichle said.

The dance classes have been in the swing of preparing for the concert since the beginning of the school year. All of the dancers have been involved in choreography, with some dancers leading larger groups.

“It’s challenging and time-consuming to create an original dance piece and I think when the dancers create their own work, they are particularly invested in the final product,” Moorhead said.

Senior Amanda Champion is leading the choreography of a dance based on “Where the Wild Things Are”. The choreography process has been both challenging and rewarding, she said.

“I’ve learned that there’s a lot of compromise involved because a lot of the dances have overlapping people in them,” Champion said. “Also, not everyone in the class is at the same dancing level so I need to make choreography that can be for everyone in my group.”

Reichle and junior Olivia Arrabit are partners in choreographing a dance based on Persephone, set to Lana del Ray’s “Dark Paradise.”

Junior Liam Carrington said his favorite part of dancing is being on stage.

“It feels really nice,” Carrington said. “My reason for liking dance is because it makes me happy to be moving along to music I like.”

Reichle said that she and her contemporaries are looking forward to the showcase.

“We’re all excited for the show except a little anxious about getting everything done in time,” Reichle said.

Champion said that she is especially looking forward to performing her own choreography.

“I’m feeling excited to see my dance performed,” Champion said. “It’s fun to be in my own choreography.”