​​On Dec. 7, the Marian C. Krutulis campus hosted a holiday dance show inspired by The Grinch, which was a great yet unique performance thanks to 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, adding to a typical dance show.

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

In a thoughtful move to be more inclusive of various cultures, the show incorporated a variety of holidays, including Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas. 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 and fitting to a diverse audience. The script was altered to honor these different holidays, with changes made to the dialogue and music, offering a new twist on The Grinch storyline.

“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 was a significant achievement, as it 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.

The collaboration between the theater and dance departments proved to be a major success, drawing a large, supportive crowd. The performance not only provided a memorable holiday experience but also proved the power of artistic collaboration. It demonstrated how different art forms can come together to create a diverse performance of creativity, leaving the audience with an appreciation for these arts and their ability to unite people during this time.