Dancers took to the stage at the Marian C. Krutulis campus for their annual holiday dance show. The show, inspired by “The Grinch”, involved a collaboration between the theater and dance departments. The show blended expressive dance, acting, and live singing, creating an immersive experience for its audience with its creativity. 

“I wanted to be able to tell a story through dance, but also incorporate other artistic mediums, such as acting and music,” dance teacher Stephanie Rocha said.

Rocha played a central role in developing the show and described her vision for the performance. By merging the talents of the theater and dance departments, Rocha created a different take on the Grinch story.

“We told the story through movement, but also incorporated many holidays like Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas,” Rocha said.

This reimagining not only added depth and more to the storyline but also ensured that the performance reflected a wide variety of cultural traditions, making the experience more inclusive. The script was altered to honor the different holidays, with changes made to the dialogue and music.

“When departments can come together and play off each other’s strengths, exploring different specialties and techniques, it’s great for the students. It’s a wonderful opportunity for them to expand their creativity,”  drama teacher Jessica Fox said.

This collaboration between the two departments allowed students to showcase their talents in multiple artistic forms. Fox emphasized the importance of this work of multiple forms of art. The teamwork between the theater and dance departments helped create a seamless performance that was both entertaining and inspiring.

“It was very fun to dance with all my friends, and by incorporating theater, it gave the dancers time to take a break and recover between acts,” dancer Mila Pania said.

For the students involved, the experience was both enjoyable and a learning process. The mixture of theater allowed dancers to rest between their routines, keeping their energy levels high and ensuring each performance was just as energetic as the last. The balance of dance and acting kept the audience’s attention and maintained a great environment throughout the show.