Jim Henson Academy of Visual and Performing Arts
at
NORTHWESTERN HIGH SCHOOL
Dance Department Presents...
December 18, 2025
7 PM
Justice Auditorium
Northwestern High School
7000 Adelphi Rd.
Hyattsville, MD 20782
Bayardo Martinez, Dance Department Director
Program
ACT 1
BEAUTIFUL MADNESS: a ballet suite
Choreographer: Julia Smith
Performers:
Level 1: Emily Charles, Khia Forbes, Malia-Rose Olliverre, Jada Porter, Janye Porter, Laci Syndor, Dominion Ubani
Level 2: Traniya Brown, Ariella Fabio, Wencelly Garcia Mercedes, Kassidy Moton, Chinaza Ozokwelu, Aiya Robinson
Level 3: Chastelyn Cosigua, Lidia da Cruz, Keala Jacobs, Benedi Perdomo Encarnacion, Anadilia "Annie" Romero Berrios, Peyton Spence
Level 4: Nigisti Bohadgo, Brianna Brewley, Shenoa Medina, Ressa Pinnock, Mariana Ramos
Class/Level: VPA Ballet 1, 2, 3 & 4
Dance Style: Ballet
Music Performed by: Antonio Vivaldi
Choreographer's Notes: Set to the driving rhythms and dramatic contrasts of Vivaldi’s Folio – Beautiful Madness, moves through a spectrum of energy and emotion. The choreography celebrates both the discipline and freedom of ballet—balancing classical form with the raw vitality of contemporary movement.
Notas del Coreógrafo: Con los ritmos vibrantes y los contrastes dramáticos del Folio de Vivaldi, Beautiful Madness, la obra recorre un espectro de energía y emoción. La coreografía celebra tanto la disciplina como la libertad del ballet, equilibrando la forma clásica con la vitalidad cruda del movimiento contemporáneo.
WILD GEESE CALLING
Choreographer: Bayardo Martinez
Performers: Chastelyn Cosigua, Ariella Fabio, Wencelly Garcia Mercedes, Aiya Robinson, Anadilia "Annie" Romero Berrios, Peyton Spence
Class/Level: Royale Dance Company
Dance Style: Contemporary
Music Performed by: The Von Trap Family
Poem by: Rachel Field
Something Told the Wild Geese
Something told the wild geese
It was time to go,
Though the fields lay golden
Something whispered, "snow."
Leaves were green and stirring,
Berries, luster-glossed,
But beneath warm feathers
Something cautioned, "frost."
All the sagging orchards
Steamed with amber spice,
But each wild breast stiffened
At remembered ice.
Something told the wild geese
It was time to fly,
Summer sun was on their wings,
Winter in their cry.
Choreographer's Notes: This dance embodies the powerful, organic response to a changing world. It explores the moment the wild geese hear the call of the south, translating the sudden urgency of migration and the absolute need for them to leave their home as winter comes.
Notas del Coreógrafo: Esta danza encarna la respuesta poderosa y orgánica ante un mundo cambiante. Explora el momento en que los gansos salvajes escuchan el llamado del sur, traduciendo la urgencia repentina de la migración y la necesidad absoluta de abandonar su hogar con la llegada del invierno.
AFTER THE STORM
Choreographer: Mher Kandoyan in collaboration with Dancers
Performers: Emily Charles, Khia Forbes, Malia-Rose Olliverre, Jada Porter, Janye Porter, Laci Syndor, Dominion Ubani
Class/Level: VPA Modern 1
Dance Style: Modern
Music Performed by: Dermot Kennedy
Choreographer's Notes: This dance presents an uplifting exploration of reconciliation and strength. The choreography highlights the power of rekindling relationships and the optimism that follows a period of struggle and hardships.
Notas del Coreógrafo: Esta danza presenta una conmovedora exploración de la reconciliación y la fortaleza. La coreografía destaca el poder de reavivar las relaciones y el optimismo que surge tras un período de lucha y dificultades.
NO ME TIRES INDIRE
Choreographer: Lori Clark
Performers: Chastelyn Cosigua, Lidia da Cruz, Keala Jacobs, Benedi Perdomo Encarnacion, Anadilia "Annie" Romero Berrios, Peyton Spence
Class/Level: VPA World Dance (Level 3)
Dance Style: Flamenco
Music Performed by: Genaro Monreal Lacosta, Ramón Perelló, José Palma
Music Edited by: Lori Clark
Choreographer's Notes: This performance is a highlight of the VPA World Dance curriculum, born from an enriching special residency with a professional Flamenco teacher. During this time, the students explored the historical context, deep emotionality, and rigorous technique required to dance Flamenco.
Working with the guest artist, the students mastered the core elements that give this Spanish art form its drama and flair: the strong, proud posture; the powerful, grounding rhythms created by the feet; and the flowing elegance of the upper body. No me Tires Indire represents not only a beautiful dance but also the students' dedicated effort in mastering a challenging, yet profoundly rewarding, global dance tradition.
Notas del Coreógrafo: Esta actuación es uno de los momentos culminantes del programa de Danza Mundial de VPA, fruto de una enriquecedora residencia especial con una profesora profesional de flamenco. Durante este periodo, los estudiantes exploraron el contexto histórico, la profunda emotividad y la rigurosa técnica que exige el baile flamenco.
Trabajando con la artista invitada, los estudiantes dominaron los elementos esenciales que confieren a esta forma de arte española su dramatismo y elegancia: la postura firme y orgullosa; los ritmos potentes y enérgicos creados con los pies; y la fluida elegancia del torso. "No me Tires Indire" representa no solo una hermosa danza, sino también el esfuerzo y la dedicación de los estudiantes para dominar una tradición de danza global desafiante, pero profundamente gratificante.
PRELUDE TO ACTION
Choreographer: Martha Graham (directed by Mher Kandoyan)
Performers: Nigisti Bohadgo, Brianna Brewley, Shenoa Medina, Ressa Pinnock, Mariana Ramos
Class/Level: VPA Repertory Dance (Level 4)
Dance Style: Modern
Music Performed by: Wallingford Riegger
Music Rearranged by: Mher Kandoyan
Choreographer's Notes: In this repertory study, dancers perform excerpts from Martha Graham’s Prelude to Action. A masterpiece of social activism, this work was a direct challenge to the rise of fascism in Europe in the 1930s. Despite the choreography being nearly 90 years old, it remains timeless, capturing the universal struggle of the human spirit to rise against oppression. It serves as a powerful reminder that the fight for freedom and the awakening of the spirit are journeys that every generation must navigate.
Notas del Coreógrafo: En este estudio de repertorio, los bailarines interpretan fragmentos de Preludio a la Acción de Martha Graham. Esta obra maestra del activismo social fue un desafío directo al auge del fascismo en Europa en la década de 1930. A pesar de tener casi 90 años, la coreografía sigue siendo atemporal, capturando la lucha universal del espíritu humano por rebelarse contra la opresión. Sirve como un poderoso recordatorio de que la lucha por la libertad y el despertar del espíritu son caminos que cada generación debe recorrer.
IN HIS KISS
Choreographer: Bayardo Martinez
Performers: Traniya Brown, Ariella Fabio, Wencelly Garcia Mercedes, Kassidy Moton, Chinaza Ozokwelu, Aiya Robinson
Class/Level: VPA Jazz 2
Dance Style: Jazz
Music Performed by: Betty Everett
Choreographer's Notes: This dynamic musical theatre jazz study, channels the giddy energy of Betty Everett’s 1960s R&B hit. The dancers focus on sharp character development and syncopated musicality, creating a sassy, unforgettable showcase of conviction and technical presence.
Notas del Coreógrafo: Este dinámico estudio de jazz para teatro musical canaliza la energía vibrante del éxito de R&B de Betty Everett de la década de 1960. Los bailarines se centran en un desarrollo de personajes preciso y una musicalidad sincopada, creando una presentación atrevida e inolvidable, llena de convicción y destreza técnica.
GET UP
Choreographer: Bayardo Martinez
Performers: Marissa Boone, Alba Campos-Flores, Mikiel Grady, Annaliese Morrison, Caoilainn Pilkerton, Ranique Pitterson, Jasmine Romero Bonilla, Maria Tejada
Class/Level: Comprehensive Dance 2
Dance Style: Street Jazz
Music Performed by: Ciara
Choreographer's Notes: An electrifying blast of early 2000s commercial dance! This high-energy Street Jazz work challenges the dancers' established vocabulary with fast-paced, detailed movement rooted in the sharp, confident style of the era. The performance is a dynamic showcase of precision and kinetic intensity.
Notas del Coreógrafo: ¡Una explosión electrizante de la música dance comercial de principios de la década de 2000! Esta enérgica coreografía de Street Jazz desafía el vocabulario de los bailarines con movimientos rápidos y detallados, arraigados en el estilo audaz y seguro de aquella época. La actuación es una muestra dinámica de precisión e intensidad cinética.
AN UNUSUAL TOWN
Choreographer: Julia Smith
Performers: Nigisti Bohadgo, Brianna Brewley, Khia Forbes, Keala Jacobs, Shenoa Medina, Kassidy Moton, Benedi Perdomo Encarnacion, Ressa Pinnock, Mariana Ramos
Class/Level: Royale Dance Company
Dance Style: Contemporary
Music Performed by:
Choreographer's Notes: A Very Unusual Town was inspired by the music and AI animated short film created by Kelly Eldridge Boesch, "A Hybrid Performance". This performance showcases a unique hybrid style of musical theater and contemporary Dance. dancers embody an eccentric energy and journey into a world where everything is just slightly off-kilter, and where human expression meets creative collaboration.
Notas del Coreógrafo: "A Very Unusual Town" se inspira en la música y el cortometraje de animación con inteligencia artificial creado por Kelly Eldridge Boesch, titulado "A Hybrid Performance". Esta obra presenta un estilo híbrido único de teatro musical y danza contemporánea. Los bailarines transmiten una energía excéntrica y nos transportan a un mundo donde todo está ligeramente desequilibrado, y donde la expresión humana se fusiona con la colaboración creativa.
Intermission
Please visit our $2 concessions in the lobby.
Program
ACT 2
ONE NIGHT ONLY
Choreographer: Bayardo Martinez
Performers: Emily Charles, Khia Forbes, Malia-Rose Olliverre, Jada Porter, Janye Porter, Laci Syndor, Dominion Ubani
Class/Level: VPA Jazz 1
Dance Style: Jazz
Music Performed by: Anika Noni Rose, Beyoncé, Sharon Leal
Choreographer's Notes: Set to the Dreamgirls disco anthem, this intense dance piece is packed with jazz tricks and non-stop motion. Dancers continue a blended exploration of vernacular jazz within disco and musical theatre, delivering a thrilling and technically demanding performance where every second counts.
Notas del Coreógrafo: ¡Una explosión dinámica de movimiento y energía! Al ritmo del himno disco de Dreamgirls, esta intensa coreografía está repleta de pasos de jazz y movimiento incesante. Los bailarines continúan explorando la fusión del jazz vernáculo con el disco y el teatro musical, ofreciendo una actuación emocionante y técnicamente exigente donde cada segundo cuenta.
RETROGRADE RHYMES
Choreographed by Level 3 Dancers; Directed by Bayardo Martinez
Performers: Chastelyn Cosigua, Lidia da Cruz, Keala Jacobs, Benedi Perdomo Encarnacion, Anadilia "Annie" Romero Berrios, Peyton Spence
Class/Level: VPA Dance Composition 1
Dance Style: Freestyle (Choreographers' Choice)
Music Performed by: Level 3 Dancers
Choreographer's Notes: The following short pieces were created by students in Dance Composition 1, as they explore the tools used to build choreography. Each performer selected a nursery rhyme and created a dance phrase that connects the text to their movement. After mastering their original phrase, the students were challenged to retrograde the movement—performing the entire sequence in reverse.
Notas del Coreógrafo: Las siguientes piezas cortas fueron creadas por estudiantes de Composición Coreográfica 1, como parte de su exploración de las herramientas utilizadas para construir coreografías. Cada intérprete seleccionó una canción infantil y creó una frase de baile que conecta la letra con el movimiento. Después de dominar su frase original, los estudiantes tuvieron el reto de realizar el movimiento en retroceso, interpretando toda la secuencia en orden inverso.
RISE UP
Choreographers: Mher Kandoyan in collaboration with Dancers
Performers: Traniya Brown, Ariella Fabio, Wencelly Garcia Mercedes, Kassidy Moton, Chinaza Ozokwelu, Aiya Robinson
Class/Level: VPA Modern 2
Dance Style: Modern
Music Performed by: Andra Day
Choreographer's Notes: A moving tribute to the resilience and unbreakable spirit of Black women. This choreography explores the journey of overcoming adversity and moving into empowerment. It is a celebration of strength, lineage, and the enduring power to stand tall against all odds.
Notas del Coreógrafo: Un conmovedor homenaje a la resiliencia y al espíritu inquebrantable de las mujeres negras. Esta coreografía explora el camino de la superación de la adversidad y el empoderamiento. Es una celebración de la fuerza, el legado y el poder perdurable de mantenerse firmes ante cualquier obstáculo.
SISTER'S LETTER
Choreographer: Bayardo Martinez
Performers: Nigisti Bohadgo and Shenoa Medina
Class/Level: Royale Dance Company
Dance Style: Contemporary
Music Performed by: Angelis
Choreographer's Notes: This contemporary duet is a moving exploration of love, loss, and reflection. Through a shared letter and a deep sisterly bond, the dancers capture the emotional journey of holding onto someone's memory.
Sister's Letter
My dear sister,
If you’re reading this, there are things I didn’t know how to say out loud — but I never want it left unspoken how deeply I loved dancing through life with you.
We learned to breathe together, to trust each other’s weight, to fall and rise as one. No matter how far life pulled us, you were always the place I returned to — the one who steadied me when I lost my balance.
I’m sorry for the moments I drifted, when my pain grew louder than my presence. Please know it was never a lack of love. You were my constant. You still are.
Stay close to family. Let people love you. When the room feels different — when the holidays come — sit with them anyway. Let those moments remind you how precious time is, and how important it is to hold each other while you can.
If you feel the spaces where I’m missing, hold onto what made us us. Let those memories carry you forward.
This isn’t an ending. Just a change in how we find each other.
I’ll be with you in the quiet moments.
Always.
Notas del Coreógrafo: Este dúo contemporáneo es una conmovedora exploración del amor, la pérdida y la reflexión. A través de una carta compartida y un profundo vínculo fraternal, las bailarinas plasman el viaje emocional de aferrarse al recuerdo de alguien.
Sister's Letter
Querida hermana,
Si estás leyendo esto, hay cosas que no supe cómo decir en voz alta, pero no quiero que quede sin decir lo profundamente que amé compartir la vida contigo.
Aprendimos a respirar juntas, a confiar en el apoyo mutuo, a caer y levantarnos como una sola. Sin importar cuánto nos separara la vida, siempre fuiste mi refugio, quien me sostenía cuando perdía el equilibrio.
Lamento los momentos en que me distancié, cuando mi dolor se hizo más fuerte que mi presencia. Por favor, que sepas que nunca fue por falta de amor. Fuiste mi constante. Y sigues siéndolo.
Mantente cerca de la familia. Permite que te quieran. Cuando sientas que el ambiente es diferente, cuando lleguen las fiestas, siéntate con ellos de todos modos. Que esos momentos te recuerden lo precioso que es el tiempo y lo importante que es abrazarse mientras se pueda.
Si sientes mi ausencia, aférrate a lo que nos unía. Que esos recuerdos te impulsen hacia adelante.
Esto no es un final. Solo un cambio en la forma en que nos encontramos.
Estaré contigo en los momentos de tranquilidad.
Siempre.
1-800-LOST
Choreographer: Mher Kandoyan in collaboration with Dancers
Performers: Chastelyn Cosigua, Lidia da Cruz, Keala Jacobs, Benedi Perdomo Encarnacion, Anadilia "Annie" Romero Berrios, Peyton Spence
Class/Level: VPA Modern 3
Dance Style: Modern
Music Performed by: The Black Phone Soundtrack Mixes
Choreographer's Notes: An exploration of the emotional fallout following a tragedy, this choreography captures the invisible thread between the lost and the searching, fueled by a hope that refuses to be extinguished. While embodying the frantic terror of the disappeared and the crushing grief of those left behind, the dancers also portray the persistence of light in the darkness. This piece is a raw, physical expression of the belief that love and memory can guide the way home.
Notas del Coreógrafo: Esta coreografía, que explora las secuelas emocionales de una tragedia, captura el hilo invisible que une a los desaparecidos con quienes los buscan, impulsados por una esperanza que se niega a extinguirse. Los bailarines, al encarnar el terror frenético de los desaparecidos y el dolor desgarrador de quienes quedan atrás, también representan la persistencia de la luz en la oscuridad. Esta obra es una expresión cruda y visceral de la convicción de que el amor y la memoria pueden guiar el camino de regreso a casa.
PESADILLA (NIGHTMARE)
Choreographer: Bayardo Martinez
Performers: Nigisti Bohadgo, Brianna Brewley, Shenoa Medina, Ressa Pinnock, Mariana Ramos
Class/Level: VPA Modern 4
Dance Style: Modern
Music Performed by: Dead Can Dance
Choreographer's Notes: This modern piece draws the audience into a cycle of haunting imagery and shifting emotions. As the dancers fall into a recurring trend of a nightmare, they move through a landscape of love and despair. The performance leaves the mystery of the dream—and its solution
Notas del Coreógrafo: Esta obra moderna sumerge al público en un ciclo de imágenes inquietantes y emociones cambiantes. Mientras los bailarines se ven atrapados en una pesadilla recurrente, se mueven a través de un paisaje de amor y desesperación. La representación deja en el aire el misterio del sueño, y también su solución.
RHYTHM OF REJUVENATION
Choreographer: Bayardo Martinez
Performers:
Level 1: Emily Charles, Khia Forbes, Malia-Rose Olliverre, Jada Porter, Janye Porter, Laci Syndor, Dominion Ubani
Level 2: Traniya Brown, Ariella Fabio, Wencelly Garcia Mercedes, Kassidy Moton, Chinaza Ozokwelu, Aiya Robinson
Class/Level: VPA Jazz 1 & 2
Dance Style: Jazz
Music Performed by: Gloria Estefan
Choreographer's Notes: This dynamic fusion of vernacular and contemporary jazz, this piece utilizes the high-energy flair of the disco era. This dance uses the technical foundation to interpret: how a change in tempo represents a powerful moment of transformation and renewal.
Notas del Coreógrafo: Esta dinámica fusión de jazz vernáculo y contemporáneo, esta pieza, utiliza la energía vibrante de la era disco. Esta danza emplea la base técnica para interpretar cómo un cambio de tempo representa un poderoso momento de transformación y renovación.
Acknowledgments
NKenge Barker; Principal
Sandra Atkinson; Visual & Performing Arts Coordinator
Bayardo Martinez, MFA; Dance Director
Julia Smith, MFA; Ballet Mistress
Mher Kandoyan, MFA; Dance Faculty
Kevin Goodwine; Dance Adjunct Faculty
Temisha Richardson; PGCPS Creative & Performing Arts Coordinating Manager & Dance Supervisor
Jaclyn Martin; PGCPS Dance Resource Teacher
Malik Savage; Auditorium Tech
Eva Gonzalez-Dorsey; Lighting
Venkatesh Batni; Sound
Andre Lee; Media Arts Faculty
Taliah Fogle; Student Volunteer
Bryce Hearns; Student Volunteer
Dean Williams; Student Volunteer
Media Arts Students; Student Videographers