DIRECTOR’S NOTE
Welcome to EMERGE: Adventures in Wonderland—a journey of discovery, transformation, and wonder through the language of dance.
When we first began developing this production, we were drawn not just to the fantastical world of Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland, but to the more profound questions it provokes—especially the one that echoes through every stage of growing up: “Who am I?”
This question is central to Alice’s journey, and it’s central to our lives as well. In a world that often tells us to define ourselves by appearance, performance, or popularity, we anchored this story in something unshakable—the truth of God’s Word. The Bible tells us that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14), that “we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10), and that our identity is not in what we do, but in whose we are
Alice’s journey through Wonderland mirrors the way we can sometimes feel—lost, confused, or stretched by what life throws at us—yet through it all, there is a process of emergence. Becoming. Stepping into the person God created us to be.
Music played a central role in shaping this production. As Co-Director Megan Stagi beautifully envisioned it:
“While conceptualizing EMERGE: Adventures in Wonderland, it was the music that inspired me. Like puzzle pieces, different songs brought forth new perspectives of what each character could be and how each dancer could demonstrate their God-given talents.”
This “jukebox ballet” is more than a creative challenge—it’s a celebration of each dancer’s God-given gifts. We witnessed our students grow as artists and as young people wrestling with identity, purpose, and calling. Each piece you see tonight is the result of prayer, collaboration, vulnerability, and courage.
We echo together our united hope:
“...that you find a piece of music or choreography that evokes your own sense of wonder. Let it inspire you to grow the seed of talent that God has planted within you.”
As you watch Alice’s story unfold, we invite you to reflect on your story. Whether you are a student, parent, teacher, or guest, we believe that you are not lost in the chaos of this world. You are known, seen, and loved by the One who made you.
A special thank-you goes to Colette Evans, our incredible dance administrator and co-director, for her tireless work behind the scenes and her heart for our students. In Collete’s words,
“When bringing to life the colorful characters from the pages of Lewis Carroll’s stories, I delved into the unique individuality and temperament of each dancer. I wanted their personalities to shine through while also honoring these beloved principal roles.”
To our outstanding Dance Arts Faculty—Kara Richey and Nigel Shum—thank you for pouring your talent, passion, and mentorship into this production.
We are also profoundly grateful to Troy Gunter and the entire Conservatory of the Arts for supporting our programs and believing in our mission to cultivate Christ-centered creativity. Your leadership makes productions like this possible.
Thank you to our families, our school community, and to you—our audience—for celebrating the arts and for joining us on this journey through Wonderland.
With joy and gratitude, Michelle McLaughlin, Megan Stagi, & Colette Evans
ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND
DIRECTED BY MICHELLE
MCLAUGHLIN
ASSISTANT DIRECTING TEAM COLETTE EVANS, MEGAN STAGI
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR KEATON MILLER (’17)
CHOREOGRAPHERS
CHLOE CANCE, TORI EVANS (’10), DAVID LAGUNAS, ANGELA LI (’22), MICHELLE MCLAUGHLIN, KARA RICHEY, MEGAN STAGI, ANGELA YU (’25)
STAGE MANAGER JUNIOR LOMELI
HEAD SHOTS NATALIE STIPE
LIGHTING DESIGNER JASON KUZIA
COSTUME DESIGNER COLETTE EVANS
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER/LIGHT BOARD OPERATOR MEGHA ARORA
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT/LEAD USHER JOHAN GONZALEZ
SOUND BOARD OPERATOR NEHA SUBHASH
TEA PARTY SET CONSTRUCTION LEE AND ROBERT MCLAUGHLIN
ASSISTANT BACKSTAGE MANAGER MIA DOURSOUNIAN
RUNNING CREW
BACKSTAGE MANAGER ANGEL LOPEZ
AYDEN BABISH, COLIN WHITE, XINYI (CINDY) YANG
SHOW INFORMATION
Act 1, Scene 1 - From England to Wonderland
Who is Alice?
The White Rabbit
Down the Rabbit Hole
Wonderland Procession
Time in a Bottle
The Cheshire Cat
The Fungi
Act 1, Scene 2 - The Tulgey Wood
The Garden
Kiss from a Rose
The Caterpillar
Just My Size
The Tweedles
The Sprites
The Walrus and the Carpenter
INTERMISSION
Act 2, Scene 1 - The Tea Party
The Hatter & The Hare
Welcome to the Tea Party!
The White Queen & Her White Knight
Check Mate!
Act 2, Scene 2 - The Royal Courts
The Red Queen
The Red Court
Royal Flush!
Act 2, Scene 3 - Final Resolve/Return to Reality
Wonderland Regression
I Am Alice
Finale
MAIN CHARACTERS
Allison Chen White Queen
Annie Li Iris
Aria Liu Queen’s Court
Ashlee Concepcion Tweedledee
Ava Suzuki Queen of Hearts
Catherine Sandoval Alice
Diana Zhang Queen’s Court
Dylan Chang Dapper Dodo
Elaine Wang White Rabbit
Eleanor Garlick Mad Hatter
Emily Wan Tiger Lily
Hailey Mac Caterpillar
Jordyn Elford Cheshire Cat
Julie Shi Rose
Lillian Zhong White Knight
Makena Suekawa Tweedledum
Reallyn Helmke Daffodil
Sophia Grabinger March Hare
Eric Jia King of Hearts
BIOGRAPHIES
Chloe Cance is a lifelong dancer. She spent 14 years at a local dance studio and double majored in dance and psychology at Santa Clara University (’19). Since graduating, Chloe has taken on multiple roles in the arts, including at Valley Christian Schools and as co-director of the Hip-Hop program at Lana’s Dance Studio (shoutout to co-director Kara Richey). Chloe loves teaching students of all ages and dance levels and will always be an advocate for the arts!
Tori Evans is one of the most sought-after dancers based in Los Angeles, California. A native of the San Jose area and Valley alumna, Tori found her passion for dance in her hometown of Morgan Hill at Lana’s Dance Studio. There she trained for 15 years in tap, jazz and ballet which helped prepare her to receive one of two scholarships at the second-ranked dance university in the country, the University of Arizona. While at Arizona, Tori participated in one of the top convention’s company programs, LA Dance Magic, where she was able to train and assist some of the industry’s top choreographers. In only three years, Tori graduated with honors from U of A obtaining her BFA and an economics minor. She immediately went on a world tour for Barbie LIVE! The Musical and upon returning, moved to LA to start her career. Her credits include Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Cardi B, The Weeknd, Gwen Stefani, Ricky Martin, Jennifer Hudson, Pitbull, Tyga, Backstreet Boys, Empire of the Sun, Bad Bunny, J Balvin and more. Tori has worked under famed choreographers such as Mandy Moore, Jamie King, Luther Brown, HiHat, Charm, Frank Gatson, Jeri Slaughter, Jennifer Hamilton, Lindsey and Craig, Zach Woodlee, Bonnie Story, Tricia Miranda, Chase Benz, etc. When Tori isn’t on the road, she’s featured on television shows such as, All American - Homecoming, The Masked Singer, Physical, Jimmy Kimmel, The Price is Right!, The Voice!, American Song Contest, including multiple award shows including most recent the Grammy’s, the Oscars, and MTV Video Music Awards. Tori spends her very limited free time reading, watching anything food related, baking, or recently, decorating her new home with her favorite person, her husband, TJ Shaw.
David Lagunas began his dance career in high school, training in ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and hip-hop. He instantly found a natural ability in movement and technique, and his love and passion for dance immensely grew. David holds an associate’s degrees in fine arts and business administration, and he received the Merit Award for Contemporary Dance in the Spring of 2014. He is currently working towards his bachelor’s in marketing at California State University Northridge and teaching masterclasses and choreographing for dance studios throughout the U.S. His choreographed pieces have won several awards and national titles, and he is a prestigious EDGE Performing Arts Center scholarship recipient. David has been performing and teaching for 10+ years and has had the privilege to perform all around the U.S. and Japan. Select credits include Aladdin and Frozen with Disney Cruise Line, Cirque Dream Holidaze National Tour, Broadway Christmas Wonderland at the Tokyo Theatre Orb, Step One Dance Company with Holland America Lines, and Festival of The Lion King at Walt Disney World. David enjoys working with dancers of all ages and sharing his love and knowledge of dance.
BIOGRAPHIES
Angela Li is a VCHS class of 2022 alumna, currently attending Wellesley College on the East Coast. She is currently a member of Wellesley Freestyle, the hip hop dance team at Wellesley College. Angela has been dancing since she was nine years old and was a part of Valley’s dance department and Vivid Dance Team. She choreographed “Check Mate.” She hopes her piece can transform the audience to see her vision and the message.
Michelle McLaughlin is the artistic director of the Valley Christian Dance program and has held this role since 2013. A native of San Jose, CA, Michelle brings over 30 years of experience as a professional dancer, choreographer, and educator. She is deeply passionate about inspiring the next generation of artists and takes pride in cultivating creativity, technique, and expression in her students. Michelle began dancing at the age of two and earned her BA in dance arts from the University of California, Riverside, where she attended on a dance scholarship as a Maxwell H. Gluck Fellow and a recipient of the Chancellor’s Performance Award. As a Gluck Fellows Performer of the Arts, she toured with the university’s undergraduate ensemble. She had the opportunity to collaborate with esteemed faculty, including Susan Rose, Wendy Rogers, and Fred Strickler. Michelle continued her education at Sarah Lawrence College, where she earned her MFA in dance & choreography, Magna Cum Laude, and was awarded the Bessie Schönberg Scholarship. She spent over a decade in New York City performing, choreographing, and teaching both locally and abroad. While there, she worked closely with noted artists and educators, including Sara Rudner, Emily Devine, John Jasperse, Rose Anne Thom, and Anneke Hanson. During her time in NYC, Michelle taught in the public school system as an Arts in Education teacher with Circle of Dance, directed a pre-professional dance program on Long Island, and served as assistant to Beverly D’Anne at the National Council of the Arts, supporting advocacy and funding efforts for nationally recognized dance companies. Currently, Michelle also serves as the associate director of Student Learning for the Valley Christian Conservatory of the Arts. Her teaching is grounded in the development of well-rounded Christian dance artists through performance, choreography, creative mentorship, and movement practice.
Kara Richey was born and raised in Brea, California and trained in dance for 16 years in the Southern California area. She successfully graduated from Dance Precisions in 2015, after training under MKR Dance Productions for nine years. During her last two seasons at Dance Precisions, Kara taught and composed choreography for their competition team. Kara continued her dance training and graduated in 2019 from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. While studying in the San Jose State dance program, Kara learned from and worked with artists such as Kyle Abraham, Kara Davis, Mike Esperanza, and Doug Varone. She started teaching and choreographing in 2013 and is currently working with two competitive dance studios in the Bay Area. Kara is the co-director of the hip hop program alongside Chloe Cance at Lana’s Dance Studio and teaches multiple genres of dance at Michelle’s Dance X-Plosion. While continuing to teach, she is also one of the co-creators and board members of Commonality, a competitive adult hip-hop team. In addition to teaching locally, Kara travels around the United States to assist and choreograph for competitive dance studios and dance teams, and also serves as a judge for the Kids Artistic Revue National Dance Competition. This is Kara’s fifth year teaching in the Conservatory program at Valley Christian, and she loves getting to see her students grow stronger in their art and faith every year.
BIOGRAPHIES
Megan Stagi is a native of San Jose, California. Megan has been dancing, educating, performing, and choreographing for over 24 years in a wide variety of styles and levels. While earning a BA in dance from San Jose State University, she founded the Spartan Competitive Dance Team—The Sirens of Sparta. In her eight years of service with the United Spirit Association, Megan had the pleasure of working with thousands of dancers and cheerleaders across the country. Ms. Stagi acts as an academic dance educator in the VCS Conservatory for the Arts for both the Valley Christian Jr. High and High School, in addition, she assists as a coach for the Vivid Dance Team.
Angela Yu is a Valley Christian High School (’25) alumna and a first-year screen arts major at Pepperdine University. She has been dancing since the age of five and has trained in a variety of styles over the years. While at Valley Christian, Angela was a member of the Vivid Dance Team and was a founder and co-president of K-ZONE, the school’s K-POP dance club. Angela is currently involved in Pepperdine’s dance company Dance In Flight, as well as the university’s hip-hop crew RnD.
DANCES BY CLASS
Sprites and Cards: Dance Technique 1/Hip Hop 1/2/3
Mia Carbajal, Ame-Reiss Caroza, Shree Harshitha Rajavetrivel Kanagaraj, Vanessa Leggio, Zarah Lipscomb, Ella McLean, Emily Ngo, Rosie Olson, Oviya Srinivasan, Vincent Su, Hailey Wong
Flowers and Chess Pieces: Dance Technique 2/3/3H
Abby Bendemire, Anh Cao, Madison Ching, Alexandra Espinosa, JennaLy Fangonilo, Arden Gatewood, Kendra Haghighi, Madeleine Jackson, Analise Jackson, Daphne Leach, Fiona Lee, Mikaela Mayr, Ella McLean (TA), Kavya Nambiar, Alexis Nauck, Alisha Raman, Amerys Seegars, Olesia Shuldiakova, Kensey Sponseller, Leah Tenbit, Alexis Vander Veen, Jasmine Wu, Elia Zhang
Main Characters: Dance Technique 4H
Dylan Chang, Allison Chen, Ashlee Concepcion, Jordyn Elford, Eleanor Garlick, Sophia Grabinger, Reallyn Helmke, Eric Jia, Annie Li, Aria Liu, Hailey Mac, Catherine Sandoval, Julie Shi, Makena Suekawa, Ava Suzuki, Emily Wan, Elaine Wang, Diana Zhang, Lillian Zhong
Size & Time: Vivid Dance Team 5H
Amelia Beiter, Katie Bowers, Dylan Chang, Allison Chen, Ashlee Concepcion, Priscilla Concepcion, Jordyn Elford, Eleanor Garlick, Reallyn Helmke, Ruhi Kalambur, Kaelyn Lee, Darcey McCarley, Milah Petros, Ameera Salameh, Catherine Sandoval, Amber Shi, Julie Shi, Isabelle Stork, Makena Suekawa, Ava Suzuki, Caitlin Tsang, Chloe Vartanian, Molly Walsh, Emily Wan, Lillian Zhong
Fungi:
Anh Cao, Mia Carbajal, Allison Cung, Hongyao Fan, JennaLy Fangonilo, Eleanor Garlick, Sanvi Gunnam, Ruhi Kalambur, Fiona Lee, Melody Leong, Annie Li, Emily Ngo, Catherine Sandoval, Oviya Srinivasan, Dana Sun, Caitlin Tsang, Alexis Vander Veen, Emily Wan, Hailey Wong, Aileen Zhu
Door Mice:
Melody Leong, Aileen Zhu
AFFIRMING THE ARTS Fall 2025
Oct 2-4.............................. 9-11 Radium Girls - HS Theatre
Oct 23................................. Fall Choral Concert - JH/HS Choirs
Oct 30................................. Fall Strings Concert - JH/HS Strings
Nov 5.................................. Sounds of Autumn - JH/HS Bands
Nov 6-8............................... Treasure Island - JH Theatre
Nov 12................................. Fall Chamber Recital - JH/HS Chambers
Nov 20-22........................... Emerge: Adventures in Wonderland - HS Dance
Dec 10................................ Holiday Chamber Recital - JH/HS Chambers
Dec 12-13............................ A Charlie Brown Christmas - EL Theatre
Dec 15-18............................ Christmas at the California - K-12 Conservatory
Monday, December 15 - K-3 EL Choirs
Tuesday, December 16 - JH Music
Wednesday, December 17 - 4-5 EL Music, HS Band and Percussion
Thursday, December 18 - The Bells Still Ring: A Conservatory Christmas Finale
Grace Zhu (’27)
WARRIOR FUND
Tuition funds operations. Philanthropy fuels vision. Every gift makes a difference, so please consider donating to the Warrior Fund today.
UPCOMING EVENTS
April 25, 2026
Join us for our annual dinner and auction. Enjoy a night to honor and celebrate the Warrior legacy, raise essential funds, and make a difference for students through financial assistance. Further details will be announced soon.
May 11, 2026
We look forward to welcoming the VCS community for a round of golf and a day of fellowship at the annual Golf Classic. vcs.net/golfclassic
Wherever you may be, we’re always here to support our amazing alumni like you.
As you continue to make a positive difference in communities around the world, we want to stay connected! We currently have 29 ambassadors all over the country that have connected with fellow alums near them. This past year we have visited 11 cities across the US and look forward to hosting an alumni dinner near you soon. Simply scan the QR code and fill out our “Alumni Connect Form” to stay updated on news and events. Let us know about where you’ve been, where you’re headed and stay connected with us today!
Giving PLANNED
The Shechem Oak Society empowers our community to make an extraordinary impact on future generations. The society comprises all who generously bequeath legacy gifts to Valley Christian Schools.
At a time when many American educational institutions are straying from biblical values, you can ensure that Valley Christian Schools continues its Quest for Excellence™ for future generations. Join us in providing high-quality Christ-centered education to our children and grandchildren by including VCS in your will.
VCS partners with Thompson & Associates to offer confidential and complimentary estate planning consultations to our board members, administrators, faculty, staff, and community. Join my wife, Kris, myself, and others in discovering the most tax-efficient means of transferring your estate to benefit your family and your passions.
As a trusted member of our VCS community, please accept our gift to you and arrange your estate planning consultation with Darren Penny of Thompson & Associates. You may email advancement@vcs.net or call my office at 408-513-2503. If you have already included VCS in your planned giving, kindly inform us so we may include you in our Shechem Oak Society.
Looking forward,
Clifford E. Daugherty, Ed.D. President
MISSION STATEMENT
Valley Christian Schools’ mission is to provide a nurturing environment o ering quality education supported by a strong foundation of Christian values in partnership with parents, equipping students to become leaders to serve God, to serve their families, and to positively impact their communities and the world.
VISION STATEMENT
A world where every student pursues their personal Quest for Excellence™
FOUNDING STATEMENT
Valley Christian Schools supports the homes and churches of students in providing an education that is grounded in the Judeo-Christian values of the Bible, as reflected in the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. Valley Christian Schools is committed to a Quest for Excellence™ in all of its educational programs, and provides a comprehensive kindergarten through twelfth grade curriculum with a rigorous college preparatory program. Firmly founded on Christian values, Valley Christian Schools challenges youth to aspire toward lives of character, service, and influence while pursuing their individual Quests for Excellence
