The school’s various dance teams performed a variety of upbeat, melodic and lyrical routines at the Fall for Dance show in the Performing Arts Center on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. and 28 at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m, which was in preparation since the start of the school year. The concert included large and small varsity performances in contemporary,  lyrical and hip-hop, alongside JV performances in the same styles, as well as a plethora of solo exhibitions. The school’s Intermediate Dance, Advanced Dance, and three Dance P.E. periods also participated.

“My vision is to produce high-quality work that my students can feel proud to perform,” Director of the TPHS Dance Company Sarah Kaye said. “The audience can feel the magic and joy that went into the creative process.”

Numerous varsity performances were featured in the show. Four performances, all choreographed by varsity contemporary head coach, Tarua Hall, were presented. 

The concert kicked off with “Figure 8,” performed by the varsity x-small team, which included music by FKA twigs. Later, varsity contemporary also performed “Body Electric”  by Lana Del Rey, followed by “Various Storms and Saints” by the varsity lyrical team, featuring music by Florence and the Machine. The last large varsity contemporary performance was “Run” by Nicole Scherzinger, also choreographed by Hall.

Hall shared the pride she feels watching her students perform in the concert and how they add depth to their performances.

“I’m especially proud when I see students push themselves beyond their limits and find their own unique artistic voices,” Hall said. “Their passion for dance shines through during performances, and that’s what makes every show special.”

The concert also featured various JV performances in contemporary and hip-hop. The JV large contemporary team performed “Complex” by Katie Gregson-MacLeod, choreographed by JV contemporary head coach, Gabby Duren. JV hip-hop performed “Fast” by Saweetie, Latto and Gio Lennox, choreographed by Ysa Penarejo, followed by the JVx-small team performing “Jenny of Old Stones” by Florence and the Machine.

Intermediate Dance and Advanced Dance performed  “Yeah” by Usher, choreographed by Florendo and Penarejo, followed by “Enough for You” by Olivia Rodrigo, choreographed by Duren, Kaylar Preite and Penarejo.

Dance PE performed “Gasolina” by Daddy Yankee, “Fergalicious” by Fergie and “Boom Boom Pow” by Black Eyed Peas, all choreographed by Florendo.

“Our dancers have been working tirelessly for months, refining their skills and pushing through challenges to deliver their best performances,” Hall said. “It’s incredible to watch them grow, not only as dancers, but as individuals through this process.”

The concert also featured numerous solos and a duet from varsity and JV contemporary and lyrical, as well as Advanced Dance.

Bellina Tricarico (10), a dancer on varsity contemporary and captain of JV hip-hop, dedicated her solo to her deceased brother, reflecting on how the dance allowed her to convey her feelings, pushing through the challenges of her life. In the performance of “Bloom” by Casey Stratton, choreographed by Duren, Tricarico delivered a piece full of meaning.

“I see this dance as a tribute to my older brother’s life and my experiences after his death,” Tricarico said. “I wanted to portray the emotions of grief and sadness, but also the growth that comes out of it.”

Bebe Neustadt (10), a dancer on both varsity contemporary and hip-hop, followed with a meaningful solo to Lady Gaga’s “‘Til it Happens to You,” choreographed by Hall. It resonated with her on a personal level and allowed her to express strength and growth through emotional pain.

“I really resonated with the music, which made it easy to convey both the anger and perseverance I wanted to express,” Neustadt said. “This dance was incredibly fast-paced and athletic, pushing me to build stamina and emotional strength.”

Immediately after, a duo featuring Tescia Konkol (11) and Tessa Good (12) performed “Not a Pretty Girl” by Ani DiFranco, choreographed by Hall.

Shea Fassen’s (11) solo performance of “Good Woman” by Cat Power was a statement of strength and humility. Choreographed by Molly Horne, Fassen embodied the emotions she desired to express, delivering a strong performance that connected with the message of the song.

“I love the song because it talks about things that are relevant to me,” Fassen said. “Performing this solo is sometimes scary because I put pressure on myself, but I always try my best.”

Anita Abrishami (9) delivered an emotional performance in “I Will Wait” by Julia Harriman, choreographed by Duren. Her performance explored themes of longing and desire, mirrored in her movements.

“It is such a powerful story,” Abrishami said. “I was hoping to convey joy and maybe a bit of vulnerability to connect with the audience on a deeper level.”

Alyssa Yeh’s (10) solo performance to “Not Who We Were” by Em Beihold was reflective, highlighting themes of transformation.

“This piece allowed me to reflect on how much I’ve changed over the years, and I wanted the audience to see that growth in every movement,” Yeh said. “Connecting with the music is all about feeling its rhythm and the emotions it evokes, and letting those feelings guide the choreography.”

In “Shades of Cool” by Lana Del Rey, Lauren Perng (10) transformed the mood of the theater with an expressive performance, captivating viewers with a range of emotions from confusion to vulnerability.

“I really love Lana Del Rey, so it was easy for me to connect with the musicality and emotions,” Perng said. “Ms. Tarua helped me understand how to convey frustration throughout the choreography.”

To finish off the show, the varsity hip-hop team, led by head coach Francis Florendo, performed “Grillz” by Dem Franchize Boyz, Nelly, Paul Wall, Ali & Gipp. Varsity hip-hop captains Alex Flower (12), Maddy Hall (11) and Caitlyn Van Hoose (11) led the team.

Florendo reflected on the preparation for the football game halftime performance as well as the Fall for Dance concert.

“We do a two-week boot camp at the end of summer to prepare for football games,” Florendo said. “This year, our combined set for the homecoming game had 100 dancers on the field, blending both JV and varsity teams.”

Florendo shared his favorite part of coaching the team.

“Seeing the team cross the finish line, whether it’s a performance or competition, is my favorite part,” Florendo said. “All the hard work, determination  and ups-and-downs during rehearsals are worth it when I see the joy on their faces after they finish.”

Kaye concluded her sentiments on the performance and how she hopes to see her students grow in the future.

“I love when I see my students discover and develop their own style and artistic voice,” Kaye said. “I’ve never felt so proud to see their passion and creativity transcend onto the stage.”