HOME IS WHERE WE DANCE

CREATIVE MOVEMENT and expression are deeply rooted in the GDS journey, whether students are taking their first dance steps in the Lower School dance studio or leaping across the High School Blackbox stage in a studentchoreographed production.

Daniel Thimm ’16, who is currently making his national tour debut with Jagged Little Pill, credits former GDS dance teacher Jan Tievsky with giving him space to explore himself as a young dancer. At his first grade parent-teacher conference, Jan called him “the next Baryshnikov.”

The support continued throughout his GDS years.

“Those early years at the GDS Lower/Middle School set the foundation for me as an aspiring dancer and artist,” Daniel said. “When I got to High School, [dance and acting teacher]

Maria Watson allowed me to take charge and build a community of dancers through Fata Morgana, which was the highlight of my entire school experience.”

The tradition continues, giving rise to a host of new talent under the direction of dance teachers who bring their own professional experience to GDS—including Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo, Joan Ayap, and Aleny Serna, who dance with the critically acclaimed Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company.

Daniel’s former GDS dance teacher, Jan, is the dance company’s director of educational programming.

DANIEL THIMM ’16 (BELOW) IS CURRENTLY MAKING HIS NATIONAL TOUR DEBUT WITH JAGGED LITTLE PILL, WHICH WILL BE IN DC IN MID-MARCH.

SHOWCASE FEATURED STUDENTS IN 5TH–10TH GRADES PERFORMING THEIR FIRST-SEMESTER DANCES AND DEMONSTRATING THEIR CLASSWORK.