The Fine Arts Department at OHS is filled with a wide range of classes that students can take throughout their high school years. A few classes included in this department are art, ceramics, band, theater, and dance.
Dance has been offered at OHS as an elective for numerous years, and it serves as one of the most creative classes that students can indulge in on campus. Those involved in dance believe that it acts as a gratifying break from the coursework-heavy school day.
“[Dance is] such a fun way to spend your day, and it’s almost like a brain break. You’re doing all this school work and then you get to just go have fun and do what you love,” said Kenlee Halonen, senior.
The dance classes offered at OHS range from fundamentals to performance, and every student who is interested is encouraged to join the class no matter what level they are starting at.
“Any grade level can just join; if you want to audition for performance or just audition [for anything], you can totally do that and she will put you in whatever level she believes you’re in,” said Kaitlyn Williams, senior.
Students at OHS joined the dance class for various reasons, but a common factor among many was their love for dance, which originated at a young age.
“I’ve been dancing since I was two years old, and it’s something that I’m really passionate about, so when I saw that they offered it, I just thought it would be a fun class to take,” Halonen said.
The dance instructor at OHS is also very passionate about dance and has been surrounded by it her entire life.
“I’ve danced since I was young and my mom was a dance teacher, so it worked out really well for her because being a public school teacher, you still get to raise a family and do what you love, which is dancing,” said Kristen Lucero, dance teacher. “A lot of dancers who go professional have to travel around and have, you know, different types of schedules, so [being a dance teacher] is the perfect mix.”
The dance classes differ a bit based on the level, but all the students, regardless, get to learn and perform dances of various genres that interest them.
“We do tons of different genres of dance. There’s times we learn our recital dances way early in the beginning of the year, or we create our own, depending on what levels we’re in,” Williams said. “We can pick any genre, and sometimes we get to create little dances of our own, even if they don’t go in the recital.”
The performance dance class tends to choreograph their dances solely on their own, but they still receive vital feedback and help from the dance instructor.
“We work a lot on self-choreographing and coming up with pieces that are our own. Ms. Lucero really gives us the freedom to use our imagination rather than just learning the steps,” Halonen said. “She puts a deadline on when our pieces need to be done and also teaches us how to work cooperatively and shows that it’s not always gonna go your way. Someone might have a different idea than you, and that’s okay.”
The students in dance are able to take away a lot of necessary instruction and lessons that the practice gives them for their future careers.
“I can be a good choreographer when I’m older [because of the dance class],” said Brody Voigts, sophomore.
Along with the class’s importance, dance also provides a way for many to express themselves in ways that differ from other classes offered at OHS.
“It just makes me feel like I can express myself whenever, and I get so many creative ideas as well,” Williams said. “One of my favorite aspects is just learning the dance styles and genres like tap, jazz, hip-hop, ballet, modern, and contemporary. Learning that type of stuff basically teaches me more dance moves and just makes me feel more free on how I can express myself with dancing.”
The community that the classes provide also makes more people feel comfortable with one another. With that comfortability, they are all able to do what they love, which is dance.
“I love all the people, like how we have such a big class and we all kind of share that same passion and drive for dance,” Halonen said.
The students in the class are able to encourage each other and learn from one another through dance.
“I get to work with amazing girls, and I’ve learned that it is important to grow off of each other. They provide a very positive environment overall,” said Amaya Llewellyn, junior.
What goes hand in hand with the welcoming students involved in dance is the highly favorable dance instructor, who is willing to work with each individual and help them grow. For some, she is the reason why students have continued to take dance throughout their high school career.
“When I first met Ms. Lucero, the reason why I stayed [in dance] so long is because I just liked her as a teacher. She’s one of my favorite teachers, just her kindness and everything makes me smile even more throughout my day,” Williams said.
The dance classes at OHS overall are welcome to everyone and are highly recommended for those who are thinking about joining.
“My favorite thing is watching the talent that comes in. I get students that are so talented and creative, who are able to do so much, and are just very smart dancers,” Lucero said. “Even if you’ve never danced before, give it a shot because you might find out that you love it.”
