“The Boy is Mine,” “Labour,” and “Dancing Through Life” are only a few of the songs that played on April 25 and 26 in the Berkeley High School Florence Schwimley Little Theater when Dance Production and the Advanced Dance Lab held their annual spring showcase. Students from a variety of grades and classes came together to showcase every bit of technique, hard work, and talent that they have accumulated over the last school year, under the masterful hand of long-time Visual and Performing Arts dance teacher Linda Carr. To add to the show’s significance, it was one of the last performances in the Little Theater until 2028, since the theater will be undergoing renovations. Overall, the 2024-25 Dance Production cast left the audience incredibly impressed. “I had very high standards because I have been to the dance shows before, and have been blown away,” BHS sophomore Anabel Orozco said. Orozco added, “my expectations were absolutely met.”
The show started with an introduction from Carr, who entered the stage in a white dress with a confident spin. After a cheer from the crowd, the lights of the Little Theater dimmed as the shadows of the first dancers took their place on the stage. The first piece was a peppy yet poignant ensemble dance to Noah Kahan’s “False Confidence.” It was a fun and exciting initial act that included a thrilling toss of dancer and BHS sophomore Bria Matubrew that energized the audience immediately.
The second act was equally exciting, being a delightful and energetic dance to the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe,” unmistakably titled “Spice.” All five dancers on stage were dressed in 1990s and 2000s style outfits, with high ponytails and attitudes. Their chemistry was evident, as every dancer was on beat and truly emulating the “pop-girl” aesthetic.
“It was super fun getting to work with the other people in my dance,” BHS junior Sofia Jauregui Gutierrez said, who performed in six dances throughout the night and was one of the three choreographers for the dance “Spice.” “I really had to dig deep into different moves and different choreographies, and that was really fun,” she said.
Another highlight of the performance was a dance titled “Strange Love,” to the song of the same name by Depeche Mode. Choreographed by students Kaiya Greenberg and Lucas Butler, it was a unique contrast from many of the previous dances. The song, which is quite eerie, provided the perfect setting for a very haunting and dramatic piece. Next came one of the biggest ensemble dances of the show, with one of Carr’s Beginning Modern/Jazz classes grooving to songs by Cardi B, Janet Jackson, and YG. As the fun hip-hop dance continued, BHS family and friends excitedly whooped and clapped.
Another stunning and thought provoking dance of the night was the dance “Labor,” danced to Paris Paloma’s song of the same title “Labour.” The dance built quickly, with the dancers standing up and performing with what seemed to be every emotion in their body. In “Labour,” a song that is all about empowerment and gender expectations, the dancers were tasked with making a powerful statement with every perfect pound of the floor and grandiose leap; something which they absolutely achieved.
“It was so fun,” BHS sophomore and choreographer Makaila Reed-Norris said, “There was someone in the crowd who was singing along to the song, and at the end, I was feeling really tired and emotional, and I remembered that person singing, and thinking that they want to be able to celebrate how this dance ends, and it really gave me the energy to go forward.”
All in all, every individual, group, and ensemble dance was incredible and there were just simply too many to mention. The BHS dance community came together to create a spectacular show that highlighted multiple styles of dance. Not only was there hip-hop and contemporary, but also Cumbia — where the dancers were dressed in flowy white skirts, red blouses, and classic straw hats. The final act of the show culminated in a massive group dance, celebrating a traditional Cuban salsa rueda. Every single dancer evidently put their heart and soul into the performance, and in doing so created something truly beautiful and inspiring.