The seats of the Little Theater were filled last week when the Berkeley High School Dance Department put on another spectacular Fall Dance Production show. Staying consistent with the theme of the show, “World Tour,” all 15 dances paid homage to different parts of the world in a unique fashion.
On Thursday and Friday, Nov. 13 and 14, 2025, students from a variety of grade levels and dance classes came together to put on an exciting and cohesive show that featured a variety of music and genres, including live drumming and even a solo vocal performance.
Led by experienced Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) teacher Linda Carr, this year’s Dance Production show left audience members incredibly impressed. “The dancers put so much effort into it. All my expectations were met,” audience member and BHS junior Anabel Orozco said.
To start the show, the dancers opened with a playful number choreographed by Carr. The music of choice, “Mali Jam,” is an instrumental track, which contains influences from West Africa. The light and youthful song was the perfect addition to the choreography, which consisted of seemingly effortless partner acrobatics including handstands, kicks, and rolls. Every dancer was dressed in grey sweatpants and a colorful shirt, and the cheery opening number was a great way to excite the audience and introduce each dancer.
Although the softer tone of “Mali Jam” was welcomed, there were also many numbers that featured some incredible intensity and energy. Specifically, “Suerte Mi Vida,” choreographed by BHS juniors Camila Nube and Valeria Alonso-Franco. Dancing to the hit Shakira song “Suerte (Whenever, Wherever),” the piece got the audience cheering almost instantly. With all nine dancers dressed in black with shiny sequined waistbands, the dance was a hit. The dancing was incredibly upbeat and fun, with every movement and sway hitting flawlessly paying homage to Shakir, her iconic lyrics, and essence.
Other dances also brought the energy, especially “Rockstar,” by Lisa; choreographed by juniors Leo Ostroy Harp and Sunny Fernandez, as well as “Rompe La Calle,” a dance to the Bad Bunny song “EoO,” choreographed by seniors Amar Walker and Ayla Conway. All of these dances ignited the audience with their vibrant movements. In “Rompe La Calle,” they utilized a shift from a cool, dark lighting to brighter and more energetic strobe lights. All of this was incredibly enjoyable to watch, and really added to the drama of the performance. “I think the lighting contributes so much,” Orozco said, “I think it just adds a whole other area of mood to the piece.”
The African Diaspora dancers and drummers also left a lasting impact, significantly raising the energy of the crowd. The number began with three drummers, who interacted with the audience and got everyone excited and clapping on beat. The students then entered the stage, performing an impressive variety of dancing, drum playing, and singing. Based on a traditional dance that originates from the Balanta people of Guinea, this dance of celebration and resistance was a great example of the diversity of dance.
Another emotion filled performance was “Entrelace,” a number to the French song “Je te laisserai des mots” by Patrick Watson, and choreographed by juniors Aliya Schorr and Bria Matubrew. With only four dancers on stage, every eye was on the dancers watching each specific move; every moment was executed to perfection. With all the dancers dressed in varying shades of purple with purple lighting surrounding them, the dance was graceful and smooth. Filled with delicate twirls and twists, every arm and leg was straightened with every movement and sway. It was equally impressive as it was beautiful.
“It was definitely a lot of work,” Schorr said, “It was a lot of trial and error, and figuring out what we liked and didn’t, and how we could incorporate different people and make it look visually interesting.”
The 2025 Fall Dance Production show was a complete success. Every dance, from each different part of the world, put on a thoughtful and astounding performance that exhibited all of their hard work. For many, this show came full circle, with students and alumni collaborating for a final product.
On closing night, the energy and heart that was poured into each dance was felt by audience members and dancers alike. “I got up there and I was having so much fun,” performer and BHS junior Hudson Eade-Duesberg said, “all I could think about was how much fun the audience was having and how much fun I was having.”