Student Choreography ‘Breaks the News’ in Dances Inspired by Real Events
Choreography ranges from mournful and melancholy to happy and cheerful.
Members of Intermediate Dance perform their Moon Landing dance at SJHHS Student Choreography dance show which they, like all other acts, choreographed themselves over a span of a couple months. The show is nearly totally student created with student choosing their costumes, their lighting, and of course, choreographing their own dance.
February 3, 2017
Extra Extra! The SJHHS dance program ends their student choreography winter dance show tonight using the theme: Breaking News.
The theme challenged students to use any historic event that was or is newsworthy and choreograph a dance routine around the event.
Articles, movies, and monumental events supplied an abundant part of the dance topics. Students choreographed dances that ranged from vibrant and fun, to mournful and melancholy.
The topic of body image was constructed into a heart throbbing, inspiring dance called Reborn. The captain of the dance, Laurel Lechuga, explains the story of Amanda Todd, “a suicidal teen who was sexually exploited over the internet…became lost and craved an end to her painful life as her self-hatred built.”
Another dance titled “Running,” emphasized the adversity of children and teenagers who have struggled with running away. Captain of the dance, Olivia Kato, said, “Our dance is inspired by the millions of children and teenagers who have left their homes in hope of escaping restrictive family values and traditions.”
The breaking news theme has a lot of diversity and showcases different emotional topics from all levels of the dance department
— Megan Mariano
Going back in time, another group exhibited the prohibition of the 1920’s by applying buoyant music to the prohibition of alcohol and gangster performances. Ruby Hulett, captain of the dance, explained, “The opening song relates to the rise of organized crime in the 1920’s due to the fact that alcohol was banned by the government and gangsters took the opportunity to produce and sell their own alcohol illegally. In all, our dance is focused around two different areas of prohibition merging together.”
Ending the show on an animated note, Girl Power, a dance that reflects the women’s suffrage occurrence in the 1900’s, delivered jubilance to the audience during the finale. Captain of Girl Power, Cindy Li said of the work, “Say goodbye to gender stereotypes, women can do anything men can do. If anyone wants to challenge women’s rights then ladies, let’s get in formation.”
Audience members were asked to vote for their favorite dances that stand out to them. Groups that win are given the opportunity to perform their dance once more in the spring showcase, choreographers ball.
Student choreo is an annual winter dance show that gives dancers the opportunity to illuminate their individuality. They created unique choreography that intertwined with this year’s showcase theme, leaving many audience member in tears as well as glee.
