Story by Claire Mao
Staff Writer
Photo by Shin-Hye (Rachel) Choi
Staff Photographer
SPHS Dance presented its annual winter concert on Friday, Dec. 1, and Saturday, Dec. 2 in the SPHS auditorium. The 2023 winter dance concert ranged from traditional Chinese fan dances to ballet and modern hip hop.
The winter concert this year had no particular theme and included many different genres from all over the world. The 22 performances included songs such as “Shameless” by Camila Cabello and “Adiós” by Benjamin Clementine.
The first act of the concert, titled “Step Into the Light,” is written and choreographed by SPHS Dance teacher and director Courtney Cheyne. The concert program describes “Step Into the Light” as a personal journey focusing on uncovering inner resilience.
Act I consisted of three performances. “Step Into the Light” was followed by “Sshh” and “Lion,” respectively. Student dancers choreographed Act II and involved students from all levels of SPHS Dance.
“I think everyone just put on their own pieces, brought their creativity onto the stage, and all worked together with this training as well,” senior dance captain Phoebe Ho said. “We all just decided to bring on different genres, diversities with movement, and it was really amazing to see it all come to life.”
Cheyne stated that the 2023 winter dance concert is a source of pride for various dancers. For many of the dancers, the performance was rewarding after months of practice.
“I think that it went really well,” freshman dancer Isabelle Whiting said. “And even the mistakes that people made were very unique additions to what happened. It’s gonna make this concert different from [Friday’s] concert and different from everyday.”
SPHS Dance will return in 2024 for their spring concert. The next performance anticipates over 100 student dancers and will be circus themed.The spring concert will be hosted in the SPHS auditorium, and is currently scheduled to take place on Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18.
