In preparation for the Winter Wishes show on Nov. 21, dancers work together to choreograph, practice and polish their routines.
The show features dancers from Advanced Dance and Dance Team. The performance allows students to choose and choreograph their chosen holiday songs with a team of six performers.
“Winter Wishes is the only time where Dance Team is allowed to come up with their own routines and dances and I feel like that’s a lot more fun than doing the same routines every day and gives us a chance to have something new,” Dance Team co-captain senior Chloe Kwei said.
In a segment of the Winter Wishes show, two student group choreographers are responsible for the various groups’ songs that reflect upon values they want to see in the world such as endearment and affection.
“For one of our songs, we want to practice showing endearment and showing love and affection for all those around us during the Christmas season,” Dance Team member sophomore Jocelyn Reyes said. “It’s important since school and life often can be stressful, but by helping and showing love, you can encourage people to be their best.”
However, the values of each song are being passed onto not just the audience, but also the dancers themselves. As dancers practice, they get to know each other better and try to understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses to help each other improve and showcase their strengths.
“I feel like now, I’m a lot closer to the girls. It honestly feels like one big sisterhood and it’s so much fun; I feel like I’m dancing with my best friends,” Advanced Dance and Dance Team member freshman Jamie Ryann Halili said.
Winter Wishes showcases dances students have been working on for the past couple of months. After spending hours practicing for each routine of various genres, with students performing multiple dances, they continue polishing their steps in preparation for the show.
“It can be challenging when you have a lot of dances. I have nine dances because I’m on the Dance Team and in Advanced Dance class, so it can be challenging to remember every dance. But I think with practice, it will eventually get there and end up looking good,” Halili said.
Students had to submit a written proposal at least a page long and perform a 45-second segment of their choreography to get it approved. Overall, the passion students have for dance is fueled by the freedom they have when they dance and is increased as they prepare for the show.
“I love Winter Wishes because it shows the skills and different styles we can do, and overall it’s just a fun experience. I love the amount of freedom you have because I can really express myself and since I’m doing a musical theater piece, I can make it bubby and really fun,” Reyes said. “I honestly just love it because I could really just make the dance however I want.”
It’s not simply the students who enjoy performing, it’s also the teachers and mentors to the dancers; the catalyst to fuel and instigate a passion for dance within their students.
“I love this concert; I created it 20 years ago! Overall, I think over the years, the choreography is getting better,” dance director Jenny Tomlin said. “This is definitely going to be very festive and is a great way to start the season!”
