The highly anticipated Spring Dance Show performed by Sage Hill’s dance program opened its curtains in the Kazu Fukuda Black Box Theater on April 3.
Totaling 20 coreographies, “Disney +” included every dance level and class. From Dance 1, composed of mainly underclassmen, to Honors Synergy Dance Ensemble, including advanced dancers of varying grade levels, each performance held the audience’s attention throughout the two-hour-long show.
“We can’t emphasize enough how much we appreciate the hard work our students put in as dancers and student-choreographers to bring the creative visions of each piece to life,” Dance teacher Taleen Shrikian said.
The dance show opened with “Wind it Up,” based on the Disney classic “Pinocchio,” with the dancers transformed into puppets, mirroring the scene from the movie. This vibrant dance with entertaining visual aids and captivating costumes was only overshadowed by the dancers’ talents. Dancers displayed refined technique and enchanted the audience with their dramatic expressions, sharp movements and dynamic skills. Successfully finding the balance between liveliness and elegance, this opening dance set a high standard of excellence for the rest of the night and secured its place as a stand-out piece of the show.
This showcase spotlighted multiple genres of dance, which ranged from lyrical to hip-hop to K-pop. “When You Wish Upon a Star,” a lyrical song from “Pinnochio” transformed into a pop dance, kept the audience immersed the whole time. Beautifully weaving together whimsy and romance with vitality, this dance evoked the quintessential Disney nostalgia and invited the audience to recall their childhood memories.
“Battle of Wakanda,” based on Marvel’s “Black Panther” and choreographed by junior London Green, was a notable hip-hop dance with a rapid rhythm and intense attitude exuding from dancers.
“Witnessing my vision come to life was an immensely rewarding experience, and it filled me with pride to share it with others,” London said.
“Fate,” a K-pop dance choreographed by senior Sophia Lin and inspired by Disney’s “Our Last Summer: Tomorrow x Together,” was fierce and commanding, making it an important addition to the overall showcase.
Another higlight was a dance inspired by Pixar’s “Toy Story,” highlighting the dance program’s seniors. Opening with a slideshow of then-and-now comparisons of each senior, this dance tugged at the audience’s heartstrings. The tribute was a memorable ending to both the show and seniors’ high school dance careers.
“Performing for the last time was definitely bittersweet because it was so much fun,” senior dancer Sabina Izurieta said. “The sense of community built in the dance room is one like no other, and I’m so grateful I got to be a part of it.”
