San Marino High School recently hosted its most anticipated dance show of the year, Dancetra, marking an end to the dance season. This annual event is the biggest dance showcase of the year and features not only the talented dancers from the school’s dance department but also performers from other departments, such as the jazz band. In addition, OPEN CALL, which consisted of K-pop workshops and hip-hop classes, which allowed the inclusion of non-department dancers. Thus, this added a unique and vibrant mix of styles to the show.
During the show, dancers performed hip-hop with strong, rhythmic beats, lyrical choreographies that depict emotions and insights of the real world. In addition, dancers also ventured out to contemporary and jazz pieces with monochromatic black outfits with white gloves. The lighting, fog, and stropping effects also added to the intensity of the performance keeping the audience on the edge throughout the whole show. The dancers’ family, friends, and instructor Ms. Shen was ecstatic to see their performances come to life and see the amount of hard work and dedication pay off. Ms. Shen told Titan Shield “it makes me super proud of my students because to see their own creativity through their work just shows me how much they have grown as dancers and as artists.”
“Since Dancetra is the biggest dance show of the year and features non-department dancers, we had put in a lot more work outside of school to rehearse. We really wanted to end the year on a strong note,” Melody Chen, 12, said. It was clear that months of intensive rehearsals, often extending beyond school hours, culminated in a series of performances that left the audience in awe.
For many senior dancers, Dancetra held a special significance as their final performance in the Neher Auditorium. “It’s definitely bittersweet to think that Dancetra was my last performance in the Neher, since Dance Company has been such an integral part of my high school experience. I’m excited to continue watching dance shows from the audience in the next few years!” Melody Chen continued, reflecting on her last ever performance at San Marino High School. She has been involved in the dance department for four years and been in Dance Company, consisting of ten talented dancers, for three years.
The success of Dancetra not only highlighted the exceptional talent within the school, but also underscored the sense of teamwork among the dancers.
