The Honors Dance Class will take the stage this Friday, February 27th, at 7 p.m. in the auditorium for their annual Honors Dance Concert. Unlike other school performances, this concert is fully student-led. Each dancer choreographs their own piece and makes decisions about costumes, music, and lighting. The dances range from solos to duets, trios, and full group performances. In the weeks leading up to the show, students schedule rehearsals whenever their busy days allow, balancing schoolwork, activities, and practice time.
One powerful group piece titled “Smooth Criminal” is choreographed by sophomore Parker Grindley, sophomore Michelle Houston, and junior Sofie Cherkashina. The dance focuses on confidence and not letting past struggles define who you are.
Sophomore Parker Grindley shared the main message behind the performance.
“Our piece is about learning to be confident in yourself and not letting your past experiences drag you down or hold you back,” Grindley said.
The group worked hard to perfect a difficult section that required strong teamwork.
“One moment in our piece that we are most proud of is the floor section after our turns because it took us a while to get the timing right and understand the music,” they said.
They also added a classic move to make the dance even more exciting.
“Our favorite part is when we are in a line doing the moonwalk because we wanted to include one of Michael Jackson’s iconic moves,” they said.
Another standout performance is a group dance choreographed by junior Kanmani Madhanraj titled “My Shot”, inspired by the Broadway musical Hamilton. The piece captures the powerful storytelling style of the show while blending different dance techniques.
She described the biggest challenge she faced while choreographing.
“The most challenging part about choreographing my dance is the fact that this is a style I have never experimented in,” she said. “I am a very hip hop kind of dancer, but this specific style is very jazzy and mixes with a hip hop touch in it, so this was very fun to experiment with.”
She explained that the intense musicality of the song and the intricate choreography pushed her out of her comfort zone. She hopes the audience connects with how the movement and music work together.
As the performance date approaches, the Honors Dance Concert continues to show the creativity and dedication of its students. Every piece represents hours of practice, problem-solving, and artistic expression. From energetic group numbers to meaningful solos, the concert promises a night filled with passion, confidence, and powerful storytelling.
