The Aragon Dance Department joined together to perform the first dance show of the year on May 13 and May 14 at the Aragon theater. This tradition was suspended for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but has made a comeback with a collaboration between the dance classes of various levels and Aragon’s Dance Team in the dance department.
“[The show is] all our hard work,” said senior, Dance Team co-captain and advanced dancer Jamila Zhao. “Some people say dancing is not a sport but [this performance] shows all the hard work and effort we put into these dances and what we’ve been working on. It shows everything that we’ve accomplished [so far].”
With its opening performance of “Welcome to Aragon Land,” containing music from the musical “La La Land,” the dance show contained a variety of music styles such as hip hop, jazz, ballet and contemporary. The performances were in groups, duets, solos and combinations of different classes. The show was full of dances learned throughout the school year in individual classes including beginner, intermediate, advanced and Dance Team, which is only active during the fall and spring sports seasons.
“Throughout the whole school year, we’ve been learning dances and practicing, whether it be used as a midterm or final,” said junior Anna Sofia Abelgas. “We’ve been practicing since the very beginning and up until recently, it’s been pretty grueling to prepare for the show. But it’s all worth it in the end because we’ll have the best show ever and have everything perfect.”
The show has been in the works for the last couple of months with dance teacher Elke Rios, who has been at Aragon for the past three years as the event’s lead coordinator. Teachers, parents and students have aided in bringing the performance to life, with students in charge of various aspects of the show, including some choreography.
“You get to see yourself grow from the very beginning of the year to the spring semester”
“It’s … students collaborating [to put the show together],” said senior Dance Team co-captain and advanced dancer Parker Guban. “The stage crew is all students … who were willing to do this and show their passions.”
The dance show closed with the performance of “Planet A,” a hip-hop showcase with music by Doja Cat, performed by the advanced dance class. There were 39 performances in total in the almost two-hour show. Students from all classes showed off dance skills they had cultivated over the year.
“[The show] is a way to build a community,” Abelgas said. “As much as dance is individual, these classes are about being a good team member and it helps create a family within the Aragon community. You get to see yourself grow from the beginning of the year to the spring semester.”
For most seniors, the dance show was their first performance since their freshman year. During the lockdown, dance classes occurred virtually, and due to COVID-19 restrictions, indoor showcases were prohibited. For many, this was the last chance to perform in high school as a team.
“As a senior, this [was] my very last show and it means a lot to me,” Guban said. “They’re like my family and I don’t think I’m ever going to find a group of people like this again. Dancing one last time and for the first time with them means everything to me.”
The dance show marked the very last dance event of the year and will return annually for the following years.
