Students in beginner dance have started preparing for their yearly dance recital, which will be held in April and consist of three days of dancing.
The dances will feature various types of music genres, such as jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary. Dance recitals can often be seen as a grade or a performance for the students. From September to April, the dancers will have the opportunity to show off their new skills. Evelin Hernandez Mendez, freshman, said, “I love dance class so much. I feel like I am able to put my emotions into the dances that we are learning.” These recitals allow students to see what it feels like to be on a stage in front of a large audience. Hernandez Mendez is also excited about the recital and the fact that she’s taking intermediate dance in her sophomore year. The dance recital is a chance for students to perform for the first time.
The dance teacher, Michelle Condor, mentions that the dance recital is a big fundraiser for the performing arts class, which helps support them. Students will also be performing during the spring sports assembly. Our school’s dance company starts rehearsals for the recital in August, they perform frequently. However, stage rehearsals don’t start until March.
Condor shared how her love for dancing as a child led to her becoming a teacher. It began when she would dance at her mom’s studio and other studios. Later, she would perform, compete, and create dances for theater, and she enjoyed it. Even though she did take theater and loved it, she would have still preferred dance over anything. When asked why she became a dance teacher for Thunderbird, she said, “It is such a great feeling to be a dance teacher and watch these students improve. I cannot imagine doing anything else. My students make it all worthwhile while,” said Condor.
The days that they will be performing will be April 10, 11 & 12 at 7 p.m. Tickets can be found on GoFan after spring break. As these days are approaching, make sure to go ahead and support the seniors in their very last recital.
