14 Centerspread
www.thesmokesignal.org
The Smoke Signal
Friday, November 2, 2018
“Honestly it was all just amazing. I liked the Haka dance because it was unique to only the seniors, and all of the other airbands were really good too. Their skit was also another thing that stood out to me because of the Spiderman theme. You could really tell how well everything was rehearsed.” — Avantika Sharma, 10
By Josephine Chew & Jonathan Liu Staff Writers
“Class of 2019 is always blowing me away because of how hyped they are and how connected each individual is to each other. … The ‘see you again’ song at the end was extremely heart wrenching … I have a lot of senior friends, so seeing them singing that on stage made me teary-eyed because I’ll definitely miss them when they graduate." — Hana Nip, 11
"I think the best part was the part where all the seniors got on stage and just stayed there at the end, because it was nice seeing all of [the] Class of 2019 enjoying their last year and being super hype together.” — Warren Chang, 9 “The most memorable scene was their third scene, where the junior and senior have a back and forth dialogue and it's roast after roast and the crowd loves it!" — Trini H. Leung, 12
Viewing an amphitheater adorned with red and white on October 18, students and staff could hear the Class of 2019’s excitement for their final homecoming performance through their animated chant, “You wish you were a senior! Hoo-hah!” With vibrant streamers winding down the walkways, bright balloons gleaming over the lawn, bold backdrops lining the walls, and a large 2019 sign overlooking the amphitheater, the seniors set the scene for their theme, Spiderman: Homecoming. Throughout the entire performance, the Class of 2019’s energy in their airbands and skit built a lively and engaging atmosphere. The senior class hit the ground running at the start of their performance with a live airband complementing singers with trumpets, trombones, an electric guitar, and a drum set, leaving the audience buzzing with excitement. A festive Tahitian airband followed shortly after, with dancers sporting white floral wreaths and leis. After their performance, the skit actors took the stage for their first scene. The skit, inspired by Spiderman: Homecoming, retraces the life of Senior Peter as he struggles to balance his life as a superhero and the president of the Academic Decathlon Team. Vulture, the antagonist of the plot, tries to steal MSJ’s prep books to force self reliance upon students. In the end, the Decathlon team decides to put their faith in their own knowledge, without the influence of traditional guidelines or typical prep books, finishing with an inspiring message about unity among the classes. Throughout the performance, the seniors seamlessly transitioned between action-packed skit scenes and a diverse array of airbands. The ballroom performance exhibited pairs dressed in matching red-and-white dresses and dress pants, establishing an ambiance of a festive, elegant extravaganza. The dancers executed dazzling dance moves, such as Milly Rocking, straddle kicks, and angel lifts to popular songs, including Kendrick Lamar’s “All the Stars” and Rihanna’s “Diamonds.” Afterwards, an exhilarating singing performance, which had the audience singing and clapping along to pop hits such as Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger” and Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite,” was dovetailed by a lively Bollywood airband. Dancers, paired with props like elegant white fans and brilliant red roses, enhanced the performance with their incredible energy and coordination. A thrilling soundtrack and a reenactment of a scene from Spider-Man added to the excitement. The crowd erupted in cheers after hearing Spider-Man’s iconic line: “You know who I am ... Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.” In a dynamic fight scene backed by a tense electronic mix, airband members dueled using swords and wooden staffs. A multitude of impressive kicks, rolls, and throws, including a soaring jump over a performer’s head, captivated viewers’ attention throughout the scene. The Hip-Hop, K-pop, Haka, and Jazz airbands were no less impressive. From the Hip-Hop dancers’ matching space buns and upbeat, outgoing performance to the K-pop dancers’ powerful, polished routine, each airband’s performance was unique and invigorating. The traditional senior Haka, with its overwhelming crowd and its robust yelling, and the jazz airband, with its fluid, athletic dance moves, were similarly striking. The final airband, a hip-hop group consisting of dancers from all classes, neatly wrapped up the show with a display of unity. The seniors ended their performance with the traditional senior roller coaster, waving their arms in unison on-stage. Afterwards, they sang along with Wiz Khalifa’s and Charlie Puth’s nostalgic “See You Again,” evoking sentimental emotions among the seniors about moving to the next chapter in their lives. The Class of 2019’s final performance, a reflection of their roller coaster through high school, created lasting memories for all to reminisce about in the years to come. photos by centerspread editor kelly yang, staff writers kimberly huang & gregory wu, graphics courtesy class of 2019