Reflect Dance Showcase 2024

2024 dance showcase

29 February & 1 March 2024 UWCSEA East Auditorium 7 pm

Welcome to Thank you for joining us at our 2024 Dance Showcase, 'Reflect.'

As I oversee my fourth showcase, I am filled with immense pride witnessing the remarkable progress our dancers have achieved during this journey. This year, we had the privilege of partnering with Goonj GC, an organisation dedicated to alleviating poverty in marginalised communities through enhanced access to clean water and improved sanitation.

Our showcase revolves around the theme of reflection, exploring various dimensions through physical/visual, relational, personal, and historical stimuli. The exploration of this theme by our curriculum students is deeply embedded in the performance component of both the UWCSEA and IBDP courses. Originally conceived as individual examination pieces, these works have been transformed into collaborative group performances for tonight's event. Moreover, we are showcasing two compositions by IBDP students, which will contribute to their external exam portfolio.

Student choreographers were tasked with crafting works inspired by the concept of reflection, showcasing not only their strong performance abilities but also their growing proficiency in the choreographic process.

None of this would have been possible without the diligent efforts of numerous individuals behind the scenes. Special thanks are owed to Mia and the UWCSEA East AV Team, Facilities Team, and Joreen Chew for their invaluable contributions to our event. We are also grateful to our Arts Faculty and the East Leadership Team for their support.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to our dedicated Curriculum dance students along with our Middle School and High School Companies for their hard work and commitment throughout this process.

Additionally, congratulations to the student choreographers who have exhibited remarkable leadership and choreographic talent.

And a final thanks to you, our audience for supporting our dancers and the Arts at UWCSEA East!

We hope you enjoy our 2024 Dance Showcase, Reflect.

Lauren Hickson Head of Dance UWCSEA East

ACT I IN THIS SHIRT

MIDDLE SCHOOL CONTEMPORARY COMPANY CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON

DREAMSCAPE PARADOX

CHOREOGRAPHED BY YURA KISHIDA

WOVEN

GRADE 9 UWCSEA DANCE CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON

GOODBYE

GRADE 12 IBDP DANCE CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON

CHECKMATE

IBDP COMPOSITION BY JULIA GRABOW

REVERSE

CHOREOGRAPHED BY CHARLENE LEUNG AND ZOE CHEN

SIRENS

IBDP COMPOSITION BY MARIKO MITA

EBB AND FLOW

CHOREOGRAPHED BY CAMILLA MERICAN

SIGN OF THE TIMES

GRADE 10 UWCSEA DANCE CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON

LE JAZZ HOT

GRADE 9 UWCSEA DANCE CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON

WHY CAN’T I LET THE SUN SET?

GRADE 12 IBDP DANCE CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON

REBUILD

HIGH SCHOOL CONTEMPORARY COMPANY CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON

ACT II LA LA LAND

GRADE 10 UWCSEA DANCE CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL CHAMBER STRING ORCHESTRA

TIME CAPSULE

CHOREOGRAPHED AVA JOCHMANN, KEANA LO AND SCARLETT LAY

LIDO

MIDDLE SCHOOL BALLET COMPANY CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON

IMPULSE

CHOREOGRAPHED BY NICOLE HUA

DIVERGENT

IBDP COMPOSITION BY ISI BARRIA ESQUIVEL

THE LAST DANCE

CHOREOGRAPHED BY CHLOE HAYMANN LEUNG AND XINYUE DENG

MIRRORBALL

GRADE 9 UWCSEA DANCE CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON

BETWEEN TWO LUNGS

GRADE 12 IBDP HL DANCE CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON

REFLEXION

CHOREOGRAPHED BY KAZ SHIOKAWA

SOUND OF SILENCE

HIGH SCHOOL CONTEMPORARY COMPANY CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON

FINALE

FULL CAST

IN THIS SHIRT In This Shirt explores both the comfort and the criticism we place on ourselves as individuals. It delves into the intricate layers and spectrum of human emotions navigating vulnerability and strength. This piece portrays the precipice upon which we teeter, balancing between the complexities of our inner world and the clarity of our external perception.

PERFORMED BY THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CONTEMPORARY COMPANY CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON

Through a metaphor of a physical shirt, the piece symbolises the emotions we bear in our daily interactions. It captures the desire for certain emotions to enfold us, while simultaneously yearning to cast off others. In This Shirt invites our audience to reflect on the intricacies of their own emotional landscapes, resonating with the universal longing for acceptance and authenticity.

DANCERS: Abigail Clapp, Ameyaa Seerapu, Anaya Agarwal, Anna Ortiz, Aurvi jain, Beatrice Wallace-Dunn, Bhavika Maheshwari, Clara Crowe, Gabriela Coloma, Jaime Cowan, Lexie Yeung, Manasvi Kishore, Mao Otsu, Marisa Aria, Molly Palmqvist , Raika Dhingra, Reya Dalmia, Rose Mollitt, Samaya Reina Atuk, Satsuki Yano, Shivani Sarin, Shreya Naini, Sidraat Nahmar, Sisley Hendarto, Tania Almeida, Tanvi Ashokka, Venice Liew

DREAMSCAPE PARADOX The dance reflects on how we depend on friendships to identify ourselves throughout time. Akin to life, friendships go through many turmoils and challenges that create bookmarks in our lives to help us bring the best and worst out of ourselves. It helps us to experience glimpses of what life is like without the filter of constant happiness, shedding light into understanding what independence and walking your own path to find yourself means.

CHOREOGRAPHED BY YURA KISHIDA

DANCERS: Hana Binti Shahrudin, Isabella Liu, Iva Raizada, Keya Das, Riya Shimpi, Yura Kishida, Zoe Chen

WOVEN The stimulus for Woven was the ideational concept of the tradition of weaving and its relationship to women. Women’s weaving skills were powerful and foundational to several distinct societies and have contributed profoundly to technological advancements of today.

Women played a central role in producing textiles for their families and communities, often passing down their weaving skills from generation to generation. In some societies, weaving was also associated with religious practices and rituals.

PERFORMED BY GRADE 9 UWCSEA DANCE CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON

The work explores both the community aspect of coming together along with the threading motion of weaving itself. Woven reflects on the threads that bind us together, both within ourselves and with the world around us, weaving a tapestry of beauty and meaning through the art of dance.

DANCERS: Amelia Shen, Ava Jochmann, Cecilia Huang, Chika Shimazu, Keana Lo, Nia Nair, Scarlett Lay

GOODBYE Goodbye is a piece choreographed for the Grade 12 IBDP Performance Portfolio. Each student performs this dance individually to submit as part of their Internal Assessment.

PERFORMED BY GRADE 12 IBDP DANCE CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON

Goodbye explores concept of reflecting on a difficult past time in your life and the the way it has led to more positivity in your future. This parallels with our Grade 12s as they move onto higher education all around the world. Goodbye is choreographed in the Jazz genre with stylistic influences from Bob Fosse and Jerome Robbins.

DANCERS: Giselle Poyon Menchu, Isi Barria Esquivel, Julia Grabow, Mariko Mita, Yamilka Acosta Valdez

CHECKMATE Checkmate was created as an IB composition piece for the HL Dance Curriculum. It was choreographed in the contemporary dance style and inspired by the idea of a game of chess. The accompaniment from the Queen’s Gambit original score was used as inspiration for the structure and dynamics of the dance.

IBDP COMPOSITION CHOREOGRAPHED BY JULIA GRABOW

In Checkmate, there are four dancers, each portraying a different chess piece; pawn; knight; bishop; and queen.

The different sections depict strategic approach, opposing teams, and the queen’s status and power within the course of the game.

DANCERS: Marisa Aria, Satsuki Yano, Sisley Hendarto, Venice Liew

REVERSE This unique performance draws inspiration from the evocative Chinese song (Su), inviting audiences to explore the profound concept of tracing back through time and memory. As dancers move in harmony with the song's flowing melodies and poignant lyrics, they will unravel stories of longing, reflection, and the cyclical nature of life. Reverse challenges perceptions, encouraging viewers to witness the beauty of dance as it weaves through the past and present, revealing the interconnectedness of our experiences. Join us for an unforgettable evening where tradition meets contemporary, and emotions are expressed in reverse, leaving a lasting impression of the power of retrospection through the universal language of dance.

溯

CHOREOGRAPHED BY CHARLENE LEUNG AND ZOE CHEN

DANCERS: Amelia Shen, Annie Ren, Belinda Deng, Cecilia Huang, Charlene Leung, Chloe Deng, Emma Wang, Isabella Liu, Kureha Kasahara, Viven Pan, Zoe Chen

SIRENS Sirens is a group dance choreographed for the IB Dance Student Portfolio.

This portrays the narrative of a fisherman at sea who surrenders themselves to the waves and the sirens of the ocean. The work begins with serene and calm waves, where the fisherman is one with the ocean. But as it develops, the fisherman succumbs to the temptations of the chaotic sea as they finds themselves enveloped in a timeless dance captivated by the alluring call of the sirens.

IBDP COMPOSITION BY MARIKO MITA

DANCERS: Amelia Shen, Ava Jochmann, Keana Lo

EBB AND FLOW Revolving around the dynamic process within one’s journey of youth and self-evolution, Ebb and Flow commences with a brief solo that tells a story of the distraught feelings of fear and regret, that rage deep in the soul. The stage will then behold six dancers using a movement mirroring technique, which depicts individuals observing themselves in a reflection, much like one would in a tranquil river or a clear pool of water. This unlocks a part of our mind that was once dark, bringing light to the beauty of embracing our identity. Sometimes, we just need to take a pause, breathe and step back, and acknowledge how we have walked down the path that we chose, fought all those obstacles in our way and ended up where we are today.

CHOREOGRAPHED BY CAMILLA MERICAN

DANCERS: Camilla Merican, Cecilia Wu, Chika Shimazu, Echo Chen, Midori Asada, Yuki Nishioka

SIGN OF THE TIMES Sign of the Times was inspired by the phrase used in the teachings of the Catholic Church, referring to the idea that the Church should listen to, and learn from, the world around it.

While not embodying this within the context of religion this work explores the idea of our own personal reflection and the way the world around us impacts how we feel and react in particular situations.

GRADE 10 UWCSEA DANCE

Sign of the Times was created for our UWCSEA Grade 10 Dance class as an individual performance assessment piece that has been formed into a group dance for tonights performance.

CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON

DANCERS: Ella Romain, Grace Coombes, Nysa Khanduja, Olivia Perez De Albeniz Illana, Samara Pesch, Sophia Bithos

PERFORMED BY

LE JAZZ HOT Le Jazz Hot performed by Grade 9 UWCSEA Dance was choreographed as a group piece in the Jazz style for an assessment within the Performance Component of the UWCSEA Dance course.

The song was originally used in the musical Victor/Victoria and original choreography was by Katherine Dunham. The scene in the move was influential in the development of this piece.

PERFORMED BY GRADE 9 UWCSEA DANCE CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON

Le Jazz Hot portrays someone falling in love with Jazz music and how this can be exemplified through movement.

DANCERS: Amelia Shen, Ava Jochmann, Cecilia Huang, Chika Shimazu, Keana Lo, Nia Nair, Scarlett Lay

WHY CAN’T I LET THE SUN SET? Why Can’t I Let The Sun Set was created for our Grade 12 IBDP Dance students a part of their Performance component.

The dance delves into the concept of attempting to release something you've been holding onto, undergoing personal reflection, and ultimately realising that it is imperative to let it go.

PERFORMED BY GRADE 12 IBDP DANCE CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON

It commences with introspection, portraying the internal struggle and uncertainty encountered in the process of letting go, until finally reaching the pivotal moment of release and returning once more to self-reflection.

DANCERS: Giselle Poyon Menchu, Isi Barria Esquivel, Julia Grabow, Mariko Mita, Yamilka Acosta Valdez

REBUILD In the aftermath of WW2 France grappled with the physical and emotional scars of war. This country, on their knees suffered challenges in their reconstruction efforts due to the instability in the economy and therefore everyday life. However, this post-war era was also a time for cultural and intellectual resurgence through philosophy, literature, fashion, and cinema. France, ever resilient, and looking for sustainable peace forged the foundation of reunification with Germany, which would lead to the creation of the European Union, thereby binding itself not just to its own healing but to the shared redemption of nations once torn apart by the horrors of war.

PERFORMED BY THE HIGH SCHOOL CONTEMPORARY COMPANY CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON

The dance explores a resurgent community rekindling their love for a land ravaged by tragedy. Section 1 explores the profound pain and loss that envelops them, a burden they yearn to shed. Section 2 portrays the community united as stronger individuals, forging a path to a brighter future.

DANCERS: Amelia Shen, Charlene Leung, Chika Shimazu, Dhaani Gupta, Ella Romain, Grace Coombes, Keana Lo, Kureha Kasahara, Nysa Khanduja. Samara Pesch, Sophia Bithos.

LA LA LAND La La Land brings to life in a mesmerising blend of dance and live music, capturing the essence of this beloved musical.

PERFORMED BY GRADE 10 DANCE CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON FEATURING THE HIGH SCHOOL CHAMBER STRING ENSEMBLE

Our Grade 10 UWCSEA Dance Students had the privilege of collaborating with our High School Chamber String Orchestra to bring to fruition an exploration of the musical's central themes: love, dreams, and the pursuit of passion.

Join us as we celebrate the magic of cinema and the power of artistic collaboration in this rendition of La La Land.

DANCERS: Ella Romain, Grace Coombes, Nysa Khanduja, Olivia Perez De Albeniz Illana, Samara Pesch, Sophia Bithos

TIME CAPSULE Beyond serving as a nostalgic reflection on the vibrant cultural landscape of the 2000s, replete with its iconic songs and dance styles like hip hop, this concept functions as a captivating time capsule, transporting audiences back to that era. Moreover, it intricately weaves in the visual motifs of symmetry and reflection, seamlessly translating these abstract notions into the language of dance.

CHOREOGRAPHED BY AVA JOCHMANN, KEANA LO AND SCARLETT LAY

Both sections of this dance piece depict the intertwined themes of mirrors and windows, reflecting on the past but then also ourselves.

DANCERS: Ava Jochmann, Keana Lo, Scarlett Lay, Zoe Valero

LIDO Lido was inspired by art deco graphic images along with the term that originally referred to a public outdoor swimming pool and leisure area in Venice. This term has since become more widely used to describe similar facilities elsewhere.

Choreographed in the style of ballet this lively performance uses the visual stimuli of sun bathing, diving and swimming to develop movement that is both representational and abstract.

PERFORMED BY THE MIDDLE SCHOOL BALLET COMPANY CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON

DANCERS: Anna Ortiz, Bhavika Maheshwari, Bonnie Tang, Clara CROWE, Marisa Aria, Raika Dhingra, Reya Dalmia, Rose Mollitt, Samaya Reina Atuk, Satsuki Yano, Shreya Naini, Sidraat Nahmar, Sisley Hendarto, Tanvi Ashokka, Venice Liew, Wanling Song Yawen Zheng

IMPULSE The dance you're about to see revolves around growth.

Impulse is an inner jouney of pain, reminiscence, connection, and independence. Through a fusion of hiphop and contemporary, the piece reflects on what shapes our past, present and future. The title Impulse encapsulates the instinctive urge to leave behind painful experiences and to embrace hope. In physics, Impulse also refers to a change in momentum, drawing on the idea that while change is inherently uncomfortable, we will find the resolve to start anew once we learn to trust ourselves and others again.

CHOREOGRAPHED BY NICOLE HUA

DANCERS: Cecilia Wu, Chika Shimazu, Echo Chen, Nicole Hua, Yuki Nishioka

DIVERGENT Divergent is a contemporary trio piece created as part of the IBDP Grade 12 Composition Portfolio. This piece explores the poignant journey of an individual grappling with the ache of being sidelined within a family dynamic, yearning to break free from societal norms. Through intricate movements and emotive gestures, the dancers portray the raw vulnerability of isolation and the fervent desire for liberation.

IBDP COMPOSITION CHOREOGRAPHED BY ISI BARRIA ESQUIVEL

The piece delves into the complexities of identity, shedding light on the struggle to find one's place amidst conformity.

As bodies twist and contort, echoing the inner turmoil of the protagonist, "Divergence" invites audiences to contemplate the universal quest for acceptance and the courage it takes to forge a path of authenticity beyond conventional expectations.

DANCERS: Ella Romain, Olivia Perez De Albeniz Illana, Sophia Bithos

THE LAST DANCE After High School we will begin to get stuck in the hustle and bustle of life, everything seeming to be so repetitive. The spark in life is just gone as we seem to be trapped in this vicious cycle. Stumbling upon our old high school memories as we have the chance to reflect back on our precious experiences in hopes of reliving the memories from some of the most memorable years of our lives.

The importance of re-finding oneself and finding what is worth living for can only be done through reflection. We will not only portray the universal experience of the struggle with finding a purpose in life after High School but will showcase the journey of reflecting on the joy in the past to moving forward in this long journey to live for.

CHOREOGRAPHED BY CHLOE LEUNG AND XINYUE DENG

DANCERS: Aaron Seo, Albertina Nkunika, Anita Yang, Ashna Varghese, Chloe Leung, Eric Cheng, Evangelina Cifteler, Gephen DePoint, Hanbo Lee, Hina Takahama, Jaden Pang, Kayden Isaiah Foo, Krish Shah, Martin Phyo, Masaya Fujita, Michelle Tung, Ruizhe Chen, Sanskriti Sharma, Sari Hoet, Soham Agarwal, Soumya Dasgupta, Soumya Tandon, Tadala Kwalapu, Tamisa Aroonwechkul (Ayla), Xinyue Deng, Yusuke Fukuzawa, Zeynep Irmak Özcan

MIRRORBALL Mirrorball uses the metaphor of a mirrorball, a disco ball that reflects light and creates a shimmering effect on its surroundings, to explore themes of self-reflection, vulnerability, and the desire for authenticity.

PERFORMED BY GRADE 9 UWCSEA DANCE CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON

The work suggest a sense of fragility and uncertainty while expressing a willingness to adapt and change to fit the expectations of others, much like a mirrorball reflecting different lights. The dance captures the complexity of relationships and the struggle to maintain a facade while longing for genuine connection. It's a deeply introspective piece that resonates with themes of identity and self-discovery.

DANCERS: Amelia Shen, Ava Jochmann, Cecilia Huang, Chika Shimazu, Keana Lo, Nia Nair, Scarlett Lay

BETWEEN TWO LUNGS Between Two Lungs explores the sense of being courgt or suspended between opposing feeling such as love and fear, hope and despair.

The dance explores themes of vulnerability, longing, and the complexities of human connection. The imagery of drowning and being swept away by overwhelming emotions is prevalent throughout the movement, creating a sense of being consumed by passion or turmoil.

PERFORMED BY GRADE 12 IBDP HL DANCE CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON

Between Two Lungs was created for our Higher Level IBDP Dance students as part of their Performance Portfolio submission.

DANCERS: Isi Barria Esquivel, Julia Grabow, Mariko Mita

REFLEXION While aiming for better changes in life, either relationship-wise, personal growth-wise, we often undertake the significant of reflecting each chapter in life that we encountered. This piece will be focusing stylistically on the genre of hip hop to explore different combinations, forms and movements. The whole dance demonstrates the concept of “Reflexion”, where our main focus is reminiscing of the past that has impacts on our lives.

Part of the story is about relationship that influences the growth, the ability to move forward and overcome regrets. The group formations of the dance aims to delivers a message of togetherness that serves as a reminder of the people surround us who support us on our life path. The solo parts in this dance will ring the bell of the importance of recognising ourselves, our differences, and capability to conquer the hardships in. our own path.

Reflexion will travel us back to the relationships in our life with the appreciation of the long-hard moving on process from the undelightful experiences, then wake us up from the sorrow to the exciting new journey through our energetic dance movements.

CHOREOGRAPHED BY KAZ SHIOKAWA

DANCERS: Alexis Chardenoux, Amelie Abano, Chloe Leung, Clara Kim, Eric Cheng, Jaden Pang, Katie Murphy, Kaz Shiokawa, Midori Asada, Nayeli Naranjo Toapanta, Sanskriti Sharma, Sokmean Poch, Soumya Tandon, Xinyue Deng, Yusuke Fukuzawa

SOUND OF SILENCE The Sound Of Silence was inspired by the original song by Simon & Garfunkel.

The song and dance explores the themes of isolation, alienation and the lack of communication in society. These concepts are explored through the experiences of soliders returning from the Vietnam War to a society that was largely anti-war and fraught with challenges and disillusionment.

Soldiers returning from Vietnam often struggled with the psychological toll of combat, including post-traumatic stress disorder, which was not widely recognised or adequately addressed at the time. The lack of support and understanding from society compounded their difficulties, leaving many veterans feeling alienated and marginalised.

PERFORMED BY THE HIGH SCHOOL CONTEMPORARY COMPANY CHOREOGRAPHED BY LAUREN HICKSON

Sound Of Silence explores the transition from military life to an anti-war society underscored by the complex and lasting impact of war on individuals and communities, highlighting the importance of compassion, support, and recognition of veterans' experiences whilst simultaneously striving for peace.

DANCERS: Amelia Shen, Ava Jochmann, Charlene Leung, Chika Shimazu, Dhaani Gupta, Ella Romain, Grace Coombes, Julia Grabow, Keana Lo, Kureha Kasahara, Nicole Hua, Nysa Khanduja. Samara Pesch, Scarlett Lay, Sophia Bithos.