Dance performs Winter Wishes Concert

Dance Team and Advanced Dance showcased their annual “Winter Wishes” production in the Performing Arts Center on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 20 to 21. Dancers performed various genres from jazz to hip-hop and named their performance with inspirational words such as “friendship,” which was a theme throughout the concert.

Before putting the routines into action, students were required to create a dance concept then proceed to present a 30-second brief of their envisioned routine. To have routines approved, students fill out a wish proposal and have it reviewed by their dance teacher, Jenny Tomlin. Students then have outside choreographers work with them to bring their dances to life.

“Everything is a hardship [since] we have to be creative enough to make a choreography to perform for [Mrs.Tomlin] to choose,” senior Antonio Kim said. “If we had more time, I think we could’ve really improved on our synchronization of the choreograph and maybe better movements. [We had] deadline for the class, but we could’ve been more efficient.”

After overcoming difficulties in crafting dances, selecting fitting music and managing time schedules, “Winter Wishes” performers delivered their desired “wishes” across to the audience through their dance routines.

“Each of the wishes is supposed to be a present to the audience, so for joy and celebration, we wanted to make the audience feel cheerful,” sophomore Kecy Sun said. “It was better this year because there was a lot more diversity and styles of dances. One of our songs, ‘Speaking French,’ has a more storytelling and theatrical feel to it – different from what we do because it’s very Broadway and we [usually] go for music that’s everyday listening music.”

The dancers tried to include a variety of expressions in their performances to convey the emotions in their dances.

“I try not to think about the choreography especially because I usually start panicking if I do. [But] whenever I perform, I’m happy and most of the time I usually feel the emotions in the song and the storyline of the dance,” junior Vera Chu said. “The emotions of our song go from gloomy and somber to happy and hopeful. As the dance progressed, we were able to break free and open our eyes to a bigger meaning in life that is full of love and happiness.”

The spectrum of styles presented in the concert served as an experience for the dancers to reflect and improve their skills and techniques.

“It inspired me to do the same for the next semester,” senior Sawan Seth said. “Even though I danced a style that’s not my primary style, I can still get the message across if I put all my energy and effort into the performance.”

By Jonathan Liu, Staff Writer