Jim Henson Academy of Visual and Performing Arts

Dance Department

at 

NORTHWESTERN HIGH SCHOOL

Presents...

... Program ...

Section I: Solos

Shadows Beneath The Skin

• • Choreographer: Shenoa Medina

  • Performer(s): Shenoa Medina

  • Music by: Aurora

  • Research Topic: Teen Suicide

  • Choreographer's Notes: Shadows Beneath the Skin, expresses the emotional process of combating mental health issues. It will explore how masking feelings may lead individuals to take harmful actions. "Shadows Beneath the Skin" communicates the importance of recognizing early warning signs and seeking appropriate support before the situation worsens. 

  • Notas de la coreógrafa: Shadows Beneath the Skin (Sombras Bajo la Piel), expresa el proceso emocional de combatir los problemas de salud mental. Explorará cómo ocultar sentimientos puede llevar a las personas a tomar acciones dañinas. "Sombras Bajo la Piel" comunica la importancia de reconocer las señales de alerta tempranas y buscar el apoyo adecuado antes de que la situación empeore.

See Me, Not My Skin

• • Choreographer: Brianna Brewley

  • Performer(s): Brianna Brewley

  • Music by: Ruel Vincent Van Dijk, Mark Landon, and Peter Harding

  • Research Topic: Racial Profiling

  • Choreographer's Notes: This piece See Me, Not My Skin, takes inspiration from the movie “Fruitvale Station” to express the struggle of racial profiling in society.

  • Notas de la coreógrafa: See Me, Not My Skin (Mírame a mí, No A Mi Piel), se inspira en la película “Fruitvale Station” para expresar la lucha contra la discriminación racial en la sociedad.

No Home

• • Choreographer: Ressa Pinnock

  • Performer(s): Ressa Pinnock

  • Music by: Matthew May

  • Research Topic: Homelessness

  • Choreographer's Notes: No Home, is a dance that sheds light on the emotional and physical struggles faced by the homeless community.These individuals deserve to be seen, heard, and not overlooked.

  • Notas de la coreógrafa: No Home (Sin Hogar), es una danza que arroja luz sobre las luchas emocionales y físicas que enfrenta la comunidad sin hogar. Estas personas merecen ser vistas, escuchadas y no ignoradas.

No Means No

• • Choreographer: Nigisti Bohadgo

  • Performer(s): Nigisti Bohadgo

  • Music by: Lick Rodrigo; performed by Billie Eillish

  • Research Topic: Human Trafficking

  • Choreographer's Notes: My solo dance tells the story of someone who is stuck in human sex trafficking. At first, they feel scared, controlled, and hopeless. As the dance goes on, it shows their fight to break free and find hope again. I want to express emotions like fear, sadness, anger, and finally, hope. I’ll use sharp and heavy movements to show the pain and control, and then softer or quicker movements to show their escape and freedom. The music I’m using is emotional and intense to help tell the story.

  • Notas de la coreógrafa: Mi baile, No Means No (No Significa No), cuenta la historia de alguien atrapado en la trata de personas. Al principio, se siente asustado, controlado y desesperanzado. A medida que avanza el baile, muestra su lucha por liberarse y encontrar esperanza. Quiero expresar emociones como el miedo, la tristeza, la ira y, finalmente, la esperanza. Utilizo movimientos bruscos y contundentes para mostrar el dolor y el control, y luego movimientos más suaves o rápidos para mostrar su escape y libertad. La música que utilizo es emotiva e intensa para contar la historia.

Porfavor

• • Choreographer: Mariana Ramos

  • Performer(s): Mariana Ramos

  • Music by: Osi and the Jupiter

  • Research Topic: Deportation

  • Choreographer's Notes: Porfavor (Please). This dance will express the meaning of longing for someone when they are ripped away from you.

  • Notas de la coreógrafa: Porfavor.Este baile expresará el significado de cuánto se añora a alguien cuando te lo arrebatan.

... Brief  Pause ...

Section II: Duets

In The Moment

• • Choreographer: Brianna Brewley

  • Performer(s): Chastelyn Cosigua, Peyton Spence

  • Music by: Matthew John Torres

  • Research Topic: Emotion: Contentment

  • Choreographer's Notes: “In The Moment, expresses the emotion of contentment between 2 different souls colliding as one.

  • Notas de la coreógrafa: In The Moment (En El Momento), expresa la emoción de satisfacción entre dos almas diferentes que chocan como una sola.

We Are One

• • Choreographer: Ressa Pinnock

  • Performer(s): Traniya Brown, Aiya Robinson

  • Music by: Furashi Lofi

  • Research Topic: Element: Water

  • Choreographer's Notes: We are One, is a dance that represents the ocean. It captures the fluidity of waves along with the calming, peaceful sensation that water brings.

  • Notas de la coreógrafa: We are One (Somos Uno), es una danza que representa el océano. Captura la fluidez de las olas junto con la sensación de calma y paz que brinda el agua.

Toxic But Tender

• • Choreographer: Nigisti Bohadgo

  • Performer(s): Kassidy Moton, Benedi Perdomo Encarnacion

  • Music by: Sing King

  • Research Topic: Emotion: Depression

  • Choreographer's Notes: Toxic But Tender, explores the quiet ache of being trapped in a toxic relationship where love feels like both comfort and a cage. To see how easy it is to lose yourself when pain hides behind affection, and how hard it is to find the strength to leave.

  • Notas de la coreógrafa: Toxic But Tender (Tóxico Pero Tierno) explora el dolor silencioso de estar atrapado en una relación tóxica donde el amor se siente como consuelo y como una jaula a la vez. Para ver lo fácil que es perderse cuando el dolor se esconde tras el afecto, y lo difícil que es encontrar la fuerza para salir.

It's Okay

• • Choreographer: Mariana Ramos

  • Performer(s): Brooklyn Ramsay, Anadilia "Annie" Romero; Ariella Fabio (alternate)

  • Music by: Jurrivh

  • Research Topic: Emotion: Grief and Happiness

  • Choreographer's Notes: “ It’s Okay, is a personal representation of feeling grief and happiness at the same time. 

  • Notas de la coreógrafa: It’s Okay (Está Bien), es una representación personal de sentir dolor y felicidad al mismo tiempo.

After The Door Closed

• • Choreographer: Shenoa Medina

  • Performer(s): Wencelly Garcia, Keala Jacobs

  • Music by: Benjamin Williams

  • Research Topic: Emotion: Abandoment

  • Choreographer's Notes: After The Door Closed, takes inspiration from personal experience of struggles of abandonment issues. How one may react towards others, pushing them away leaving them alone. 

  • Notas de la coreógrafa: After The Door Closed (Después de la Puerta Cerrada), se inspira en la experiencia personal de lidiar con el abandono. Cómo uno puede reaccionar ante los demás, alejándolos y dejándolos solos.

... VPA Dance Awards ...

&

... NHSDA Inductions ...

... Acknowledgments ...

NKenge Barker; Principal

Cordelia Polley; Assistant Principal

Secoya Muschett; Assistant Principal

Sandra Atkinson; Visual & Performing Arts Coordinator

Bayardo Martinez; Dance Department Director

Julia Smith; Ballet Mistress

Jenna Nelson; Dance Faculty

Kevin Goodwine; Dance Adjunct Faculty

Temisha Richardson; PGCPS Dance Supervisor

Jaclyn Martin; PGCPS Dance Resource Teacher

Malik Savage; Auditorium Tech

Sandra Atkinson; Lighting Operator

Ariella Fabio; Sound Operator

Lidia da Cruz; Stage Manager

Keala Jacobs; Videographer 1

Peyton Spence Videographer 2