The Arts department has been occupied this past school year. With the end of the semester, the Theater and Dance programs have been displaying what they have been working on and learning. Dance Production performed at the annual Santa Ana Dance Festival as well as at the Winter Recital, alongside the Theater program on Tuesday, December 11.

The Santa Ana Dance Festival took place on Friday, December 7 and included Canyon, Godinez, Valley, Irvine, University, and Cabrillo High Schools. The crowd cheered as hip-hop, contemporary, and jazz pieces were performed throughout the night. Dance Production shared their contemporary/modern piece about immigration and their samba piece that was performed at the homecoming assembly this past September.

The Winter Recital began with an introduction by Mrs. Elder, the dance teacher at Anaheim High School. The three beginning dance classes took the stage and performed the jazz, ballet, and modern pieces that they learned this semester. Beginning Theater was introduced by Mrs. King, and they showed their skill exercises, which included miming and tug-o-war.

Mario Mendoza, one of the Theater students, shared an assignment from the class: a personal letter that he wrote to Santa. The letter described his wish of seeing his mother and sister, who were deported to Mexico earlier this year. The show’s first half was closed by a presentation of a fragment of “Little Women,” which was directed by Natalie Olivares.

The second half of the show consisted of two performances from Dance Production and a piece that Dance 3 has been working on since summer vacation. Theater closed the show with “It’s a Wonderful Life,”- a story about being thankful during the holidays.

The Theater program and Dance program will continue to have a busy year; Theater will perform their Spring Play and Musical while Dance will have its annual Concert during the second semester.