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Celebrating Debby Giblisco’s 30th Year of Fusion

Celebrating Debby Giblisco’s 30th Year of Fusion

This year’s Fusion performance is special as we celebrate Debby Gibilisco’s 30th year with the program.

Debby has been choreographing since she was 18 years old. She began her dance teaching career at Maple Point High School, then later at Holy Ghost Prep and McCorristin Catholic High School. She also choreographed for the Trenton Civic Opera Company and assists with her local church dance team.

During the 1995-96 school year, Debby took on the roles of choreographer and director of the Notre Dame High School dance program. Both the Dance Class and Dance Performance Class were active at that time. The students were tasked with finding a word that best described the dance program. Terry Greiner ’98 Finch suggested the word “Fusion.” Fusion refers to “a combination or mixture of things," perfectly capturing the essence of the dance show at Notre Dame, which celebrates the blend of students, dance styles, and choreography that defines our show as “Fusion.”

In 2002, the Dance Class program expanded, forming a small group of girls known as the Select Dance Ensemble. The following year, an Intermediate Dance class was introduced to accommodate the increasing number of students participating in the program. Liana Kelly '07 designed the Fusion logo we use today.

All three classes learn Jazz, Tap, and Lyrical styles, while students in Dance Performance are also exposed to Broadway and Liturgical dance styles. Debby shared, “I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to share my love for Liturgical dance with students, to expose them to dancing for an audience of One higher. Teaching at a Catholic school allows students to praise God through dance to bring words to life with movement.”

Debby expressed that another highlight for her is when alumni are invited back to dance at Fusion. Sharing the experience of being on stage again is fun since most of the alumni’s dance careers after college are not in show business. However, the program has had dancers go on to careers in the Rockettes and professional dancers for the NY Knicks, Philadelphia Eagles, 76’s, and other sports teams.

“I am blessed to have taught so many wonderful students over the years. Some have now become my colleagues and friends. Dance has always been my passion, a freedom of expression and a way to communicate my heart with others through beautiful movement. Working here at Notre Dame, both with Fusion and the Musical, alongside my husband, has marked my life in a special way. To do something you love and share it with others is fulfilling. I am grateful for the opportunity to touch so many lives.”

The Notre Dame Dance Performance, Dance Intermediate, and Dance Classes presented Fusion 2025 in the McLeod Theatre on January 11. Mrs. Debby Gibilisco directed and choreographed the show with Mrs. Lauren Haugen, who choreographed our Dance class numbers.

The evening ran smoothly with help from the Technical Director, Mr. Travis Johnson; the Lighting Designer, Ms. Laura Baron; the Spot Operators, Sam Zebrowski and Leah Rouse; the Sound Board Operator, Gabby Rivera; and the Stage Managers, Jenny Borowick, Maddie Payne, and Kate Candelori.

Congratulations to the following dancers on another successful show!

Dance Performance: Luciana Angelico, Sophia Cramer, Jenevieve Gopez, Damian Hamm, Isabella Mays, Callie Okamura, Molly Rovner, Kyla Spruil, Rosemarie Stout, Nicholas Torres

Intermediate Dance: Gianna Casterline, Juliana Dore, Faith Figueroa, Lara Flores, Catherine Goodwin, Annabelle Hediger, Shana Ignacio, Kara Lushbaugh, Genevieve Onzik, Charlotte Paces-Carter, Samantha Shearer, Veronika Tannenberg

Dance Class: Clare Cahill, Olivia Duva, Mitshelah Florestal, Rebecca Guglielmo, Lauren Mersel, Simone Pettit, Alexa Rodriguez, Jeaniene Roy, Amanda Shearer, Olivia Strauli-Ellis, Olivia Strouse, Campbell Tormey, Max Whittle, Willow Wu, Brooke Young
 

D1 Student-Athletes Sign Letters of Intent

Three standout athletes from Notre Dame High School have officially signed their National Letters of Intent to pursue Division I sports at the collegiate level. 

Kate Moog ’27 and Katie Graham ’27 Lead "Team K&K for a Cure"

In the fight against blood cancers, Kate Moog ’27 and Katie Graham ‘27 have joined forces to form Team K&K for a Cure and are officially running as candidates for the prestigious Student of the Year title with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).

Exciting New College Partnership with Assumption University

We are thrilled to announce that Notre Dame High School has established a new partnership with Assumption University in Worcester, MA! This collaboration marks an exciting opportunity for our students as they embark on their journey toward higher education. Assumption University is a distinguished Catholic liberal arts institution that prides itself on fostering a diverse and inclusive community.