Story by Owen Hou
Staff Writer
Photos by Zoe Chen, Madeline Madrigal & Mac Shropshire
Staff Photographers
SPHS Dance presented its annual Winter Dance Concert on Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7. With a total of 25 different performances, the choreographed dances spanned a variety of different genres and songs, from hip hop to traditional Mexican ballet folklórico.
There was no primary theme or genre during the show, meaning that dancers and choreographers could create anything they wanted. This led to different performances, ranging from Tyler the Creator’s “Rah Tah Tah” to a traditional Chinese lion dance.
Preparation for the concert started two months ago, with nearly 12 hours of work and practice being put in daily.
“We rehearse every day, all day, starting from seven in the morning. We have classes all day until about seven or eight o’clock,” dance director Courtney Cheyne said.
The first performance of the night, choreographed by Cheyne, was called “Connections,” a piece that showcased the beauty and complexity of human interaction and how it shapes peoples’ lives and identities. Throughout the rest of the concert, the mood remained high as applause and cheering erupted after each act.
“It was a really fun atmosphere. [The] best part [was] being with all my best friends, basically like my family, and I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else,” senior dance captain Quin Sokolowski said.
SPHS Dance will have its next show at the annual Spring Dance Concert, which is anticipated to be held in May 2025.
“I think all the dancers had really good energy today, and it was just good vibes all around,” senior dance captain Indie Pangelinan said.
