HS DANCE COMPANY

Choreographed by Lauren Hickson

Keys explores the mechanics of a piano and the composition of a musical score. Section 1 conveys the keys themselves, the weight and force placed on them to make sound. Sections 2 and 3 explore the arrangement of the notes to bring together the elements of a musical score. Then finally Section 4 portrays the completed composition and how the notes work together to produce music. Keys shows the evolution of the compositional process and the manifestation of creativity.

STUDENT LED ACTIVITY

Choreographed by Shuri Fukuzawa and Ashley Wang

Rivalry explores survival within the animal kingdom, and how each species has a different pace of life. The piece features 3 distinctively different animals; cheetahs, snakes, and birds, each group has contrasting lifestyles, and are thus represented by a complementing dance style. These animals are very different in characteristics as well as how they cope to survive in the wild. In the animal kingdom, speed is not a luxury, predators and prey alike depend on it for their survival. Although we have detached our lives from the continuous momentum of interdependent survival, our dance attempts to remind us that life is not systematic, but functions through momentum.

STUDENT LED ACTIVITY

Choreographed by Alex Ivan Goiris Ayala and Maria Fernanda Araoz Pozo

This piece explores the idea of “who we are and where we are headed”. For the choreographers Mar Momentum is related to everything they are; to their roots, to their traditions and to the way they get through life. This work was inspired by Latin American culture and history, and follows the process of its inception, growth and its connection with the world. Exploring concepts of religion, traditions, interculturality, it’s energetic movements, represent culture and our stories of "who we are right now", Viaje a Latam aims to convey enjoying life and having fun.

STUDENT LED ACTIVITY

Choreographed and performed by Mariko Mita and Rikoko Koba

This dance is inspired by the ongoing struggles of teenagers with academic and social pressure. It conveys a message of unity as well as comfort. This dance piece shows that there are others surrounding you, and you are not alone. Train Wreck explores how when one person encourages and supports you, positive influence is immeasurable.

HS JAZZ ACTIVITY

Choreographed by Rocio Yap

This item is performed by our HS Jazz Activity and choreographed by Rocio Yap. This fun, light hearted piece is brought to you by the High School Jazz Activity dancers. The dance shows that jazz is not just about lines and tricks, or kicks and turns and jumps. It is a super versatile genre and it can be showcased in many different forms.

Some styles showcased include Jazz, girls style, a touch of waacking and heels dance. This season, the girls have been exposed to heels dance as part of their jazz training as it is a style that requires a high level of discipline and technical ability. Heel techniques are derived from many styles, from jazz placement, to contemporary floor flows, street dance styling, latin dance hip movement and the list goes on.

HS SALSA ACTIVITY

Choreographed by Patriicia Waszczuk

Salsa is a Latin dance and a musical style with deep Caribbean and African roots. Salsa is an amalgamation of Cuban dances such as mambo, pachanga, and rumba as well as American dances such as swing and tap. It was primarily developed by Puerto Ricans and Cubans living in New York in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Salsa is very energetic and it allows the dancer to express their emotions. This ladies style group is dancing to the song “Lost on you” by Cubaneros and represents a woman expressing her love to another.

STUDENT LED ACTIVITY

Choreographed by Pepper Dinsdale and Sara Matsubara

The stimulus of the dance was influenced by the heartbeat and this is present in the movement and the music. It explores the concept of an impulse within the pulsing and swaying movement of the body and how the flow of energy can move in and out of the heart.

HS DANCE COMPANY

Choreographed by Lauren Hickson

Fragments of Light draws inspiration from the Dwan Light Sanctuary which is a part of the UWC New Mexico Campus. The Dwan Light Sanctuary is described as a place to seek “refuge from the pace, conflicts, and anxieties of daily living. The orientation and geometry of the building are derived from its alignment to the sun, moon, and stars.”

This dance work aims to convey the serenity found in the sanctuary along with geometrical shapes and patterns created by the ribbons of light that move in the space as the earth revolves. We hope that Fragments of Light gives you a moment of stillness in our sometimes chaotic lives.