Emotions: Movie Night

4/25 - 6PM

4/26 - 4PM (STUDENT SHOW)

4/26 - 7:30PM

4/27 - 2PM & 6PM

“Cinema is a mirror

by which we often see ourselves.”

–Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

Welcome to this year’s Valley Christian High School Emotions: Movie Night. Thank you for joining us as we enjoy the magic of movies through dance! God has truly blessed us with tremendous talent, steadfast students, a fantastic faculty, and a wonderful community of parents and supporters. We are grateful to VCHS and the Conservatory of the Arts for their continued support in fostering our large-scale growth and continuous development to share our ministry.

This year, we have decided to focus on movies and cinema that have inspired us as artists. Maybe it was the cinematography, music, characters, adventure, or theme that moved us emotionally, and yes, physically! Cinema serves as a mirror to society, reflecting its joys, struggles, and complexities. Through films, we witness stories that resonate with our own experiences, making us feel connected and understood. It portrays diverse cultures, lifestyles, and issues, promoting the audience’s empathy and understanding. Emotions is a unique opportunity for student choreographers to experiment, create, and develop choreography for and with their peers. This year, we showcase over 23 student choreographers who have worked hard to make a fabulous night! We are so excited to have our choreographers and dancers share their talent and passion on the stage! This journey began early in January, through a four-month mentoring program. I would like to thank our faculty mentors who have guided them along the way. The energy and joy that we as a dance community have while in the studio and creating together is what we hope you feel! It is a tremendous privilege to share our passion and enjoy the show!

More Thanks:

• To our cast for their hard work and dedication to this community.

• The amazing technical crew, who work tirelessly to put it all together!

• The choreographers who developed, nurtured, and created pieces that will leave a lasting legacy to our department.

• Finally, to my Seniors who have left a lasting impact on our community: you have imprinted your mark in such wonderful ways! It is a pleasure to have you as students. I pray for your future that you will continue to bring glory to God in all that you do!

As artists, we seek to add something to our community that did not exist before; something of value and purpose that shed light on God’s goodness. God has called each of us to share our talents and lift one another up in life, that involves risks and hardships along the way, but is sustained by faithfulness and growing hope. It is our sincerest wish that, within our production, you will be challenged, encouraged, and inspired by God’s purposeful journey.

Director................................................................................................. Michelle McLaughlin

Assistant Director.......................................................................................... Colette Evans

Technical Director .......................................................................................... Keaton Miller

Faculty Mentors ............................................ Nigel Shum, Megan Stagi, Kara Richey

Lighting Designer..............................................................................................Jason Kuzia

Costume Mistress ................................................................................................ Kathy Risk

Faculty Supervisors Judi Fuller, Cathy LaPore

Stage Manager Sophia Morais

Production/House Manager Colette Evans

Backstage Manager Anvi Goel

Assistant Backstage Manager ................................................................ Sydnee Smaha

Light Board Operator ............................................................................. Maya Bangalore

Sound Board Operator ............................................................................... Hannah Balog

Videography ....................................................................................... Alpha Grit Creatives

Running Crew ................................................................................................................ Lily Le

Photographer ......................................................................................... Manav Guruswami

Senior Slide Show/Media Clips ......................................................................Sharis Hsu

LA LA LAND

Choreographed by Catherine Sandoval and Nora Garlick

“Another Day of Sun” by LaLa Land Cast

Dancers: Hannah Bitter, Jordyn Elford, Eleanor (Nora) Garlick, Rayne Johnson, Jordan Jones, Junior Lomeli, Samantha McEwen, Allie Roderick, Catherine (Cat) Sandoval, Julie Shi, Claire Tan, and Angela Yu

DIRTY

DANCING

Choreographed by Mia Suzuki

“The Time of My Life” by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes

Dancers: Estella Chen, Adrina Hsieh, Sharis Hsu, Ekaterina (Katya) Kuzmenko, Rebecca Rebello, and Mia Suzuki

JOHN WICK

Choreographed by Michael Villegas

“The Hills” by The Weeknd

Dancer: Michael Villegas

SKYFALL

Choreographed by Estella Chen

“Skyfall” by Adele

Dancers: Estella Chen, Hannah Bitter, Nora Garlick, Rayne Johnson, Jordan Jones, Katya Kuzmenko, Cat Sandoval, Lucy Xie, Chloe Zhong, and Lillian Zhong

JORDYN ELFORD

Choreographed by Syney Shigemoto

“Agua y Puerta” by Lechuga Zafiro

Dancer: Jordyn Elford

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

Choreographed by Julie Shi

“Never Enough” by Loren Allred

Dancers: Katya Kuzmenko, Julie Shi, and Chloe Zhong

CREED

Choreographed by Kayla Abaya and Rayne Johnson

“All of the Lights” by Rihanna and Kanye West

Dancers: Suriya Demps, Jordyn Elford, Aubrey Heath, Rayne Johnson, Jordan Jones, Sanya Kondapalli, Amani Lamba, Matthew Li, and Angela Yu

KATYA KUZMENKO

Choreographed by Tori Evans

“Paint it Black” by Wednesday Addams Original Cast Dancer: Katya Kuzmenko

GREASE

Choreographed by Ava Suzuki

“Hopelessly Devoted to You” by Olivia Newton-John

Dancers: Nora Garlick, Samantha McEwen, Julie Shi, Caitlin Tsang, and Lillian Zhong

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

Choreographed by Angela Yu

“Circus” by Britney Spears

Dancers: Jordan Jones, Rebecca Rebello, Allie Roderick, Ananya Veligeti, Michael Villegas, Angela Yu

SHARIS HSU

Choreographed by Sharis Hsu

“Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Tommee Profitt with Brooke Light Dancer: Sharis Hsu

MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN

Choreographed by Katya Kuzmenko and Lucy Xie

“Wish That You Were Here” by Florence & The Machine

Dancers: Hannah Bitter, Estella Chen, Rayne Johnson, Katya Kuzmenko, Allie Roderick, Lillian Zhong, Chloe Zhong, and Lucy Xie

THE WEDDING COTTAGE

Choreographed by Will Thomas

“You are the Reason” by Calum Scott

Dancer: Adrina Hsieh

BARBIE

Choreographed by Katelyn Chan and Gwenyth Lundgaard

“Pink,” “I’m Just Ken,” “Dance the Night,” “What Was I Made For,” “Girls” by Lizzo, Billie Eilish, Ryan Gosling, Dua Lipa

Dancers: Aiden Bergey, Hannah Bitter, Katelyn Chan, Estella Chen, Litong Deng, Jake Garlick, Nora Garlick, Sharis Hsu, Jordan Jones, Gwenyth Lundgaard, Cat Sandoval, Varan Verma, Michael Villegas, Dylan Wong, James Ye, and Chloe Zhong

VIVID DANCE TEAM

Choreographed by Will Thomas

“Mr. Know It All” by Kelly Clarkson

Dance Team: Allison Chen, Estella Chen, Jordyn Elford, Maya Hsian, Adrina Hsieh, Sharis Hsu, Katya Kuzmenko, Rebecca Rebello, Catherine Sandoval, Ava Suzuki, Mia Suzuki, Melinda Wong, Lucy Xie, and Angela Yu

SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE

Choreographed by Brooke Johnson

“Annihilate,” “Invincible,” “Start a Riot” by Metro Boomin, Swae Lee, Lil Wayne, and Offset; Animé; DUCKWRTH and Shaboozey

Dancers: Nora Garlick, Aubrey Heath, Rayne Johnson, Jordan Jones, Gwenyth Lundgaard, Allie Roderick, and Ananya Veligeti

THE LORD OF THE RINGS

Choreographed by Katya Kuzmenko and Sharis Hsu

“Will I Make It Out Alive” by Tommee Profitt featuring Jessie Early Dancers: Katya Kuzmenko and Sharis Hsu

RAABTA

Choreographed by Ananya Veligeti, Vedika Baldua, Noopur Garg, and Aria Chhablani

“Main Tera Boyfriend” by Arjit Singh

Dancers: Vedika Baldua, Suriya Demps, Nora Garlick, Aubrey Heath, Junior Lomeli, Samantha McEwen, Vaibhav Rau, Claire Tan, Caitlin Tsang, Ananya Veligeti, Varan Verma, and Ziyu Xu

SOUL

Choreographed by Adrina Hsieh

“It’s All Right” by Jon Batiste

Dancers: Estella Chen, Adrina Hsieh, Allie Roderick, and Lucy Xie

TANGLED

Choreographed by Rebecca Rebello

“Lanterns Lit” by Son Lux

Dancers: Katelyn Chan, Estella Chen, Adrina Hsieh, Sharis Hsu, Katya Kuzmenko, and Melinda Wong

ALLISON CHEN

Choreographed by Emily Rosa

“I’ll Be Waiting” by Cian Ducrot

Dancer: Allison Chen

THE GREAT GATSBY

Choreographed by Sharis Hsu

“Young and Beautiful” by Lana Del Rey

Dancers: Sharis Hsu, Katya Kuzmenko, Allie Roderick, Cat Sandoval, Melinda Wong, Angela Yu, and Lillian Zhong

NOTTING HILL

Choreographed by Rebecca Rebello

“She” by Elvis Costello

Dancer: Rebecca Rebello

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

Choreographed by Adrina Hsieh and Melinda Wong

“Get’cha Head in The Game,” “Can I Have This Dance,” “Gotta Go My Own Way,” “The Boys Are Back,” “We’re All In This Together” by High School Musical Cast

Dancers: Aiden Bergey, Litong Deng, Adrina Hsieh, Sharis Hsu, Ethan Kim, Katya Kuzmenko, Matthew Li, Junior Lomeli, Gwenyth Lundgaard, Alexander Page, Allie Roderick, Cat Sandoval, Dylan Wong, Melinda Wong, Lucy Xie, and Steven Xu

CHOREOGRAPHERS

Barbie – Gwenyth Lundgaard and Katelyn Chan

Our favorite scene from this movie is when Barbie tells Ken that he needs to rely on himself, not Barbie. It tells the audience that we have to stand up for ourselves and not follow in another person’s shadow.

Creed – Rayne Johnson and Kayla Abaya

Our favorite scene is when Adonis is about to lose his fight. He was just beaten up, making it dangerous for him to continue. In this moment, he has a flashback of his father fighting, which was what led to his death years ago. As Rocky, Adonis’ mentor and the former friend of Adonis’ father, was about to call off the fight, Adonis says “I gotta prove it.” Prove that he’s not a mistake, prove that he didn’t do all of this for nothing, prove that he is worthy of being his father’s child, and prove that he is enough. Rocky responds by expressing how he is going to fight alongside Adonis and will always be there at his side because he loves Adonis like a son. This symbolizes their relationship and how much they have grown together and how Rocky has become a father figure for Adonis. Ultimately, it shows that no matter what happens, they have gained the most important thing: each other.

The Great Gatsby – Sharis Hsu

My favorite scene from The Great Gatsby is when Gatsby tosses thousands of dollars worth of clothes onto the ground, demonstrating how his love for Daisy trumps all, and he would give away every single thing for her. However, she begins to sob as she questions if their love can still exist, despite how every physical aspect of their lives has changed. This scene initiates the question, “Will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful?” which inspired this dance.

The Greatest Showman – Julie Shi and Angela Yu

Julie Shi – My favorite scene from this movie is when the character, Jenny Lind, tries to gain Hugh Jackman’s love as the fame and fortune she receives will only be enough for her if she had him. I enjoyed this scene because I think it relates to real life as many girls tend to search for guys’ approval and love before anything else. Although the dynamics in the movie are not as intense as what I’ve seen in real life, I think that people can still learn a lot from this scene and apply it to their future endeavors in relationships.

Angela Yu – My favorite scene from the Greatest Showman is during “A Million Dreams.” To be honest, the main reason I like this scene is because of how good the song is. However, I also do really love it because of the way it takes you through a glimpse of the characters’ lives, leading up to a dream come true.

Grease – Ava Suzuki

My favorite scene is the opening scene, because it’s got the most iconic songs and it’s so fun to dance to.

High School Musical 1-3 – Melinda Wong and Adrina Hsieh

Our favorite scene is the finale when everyone starts celebrating together. It shows that we can help each other out when in similar situations, despite our differences

CHOREOGRAPHERS

John Wick – Michael Villegas

My favorite scene is when John is in a gun fight inside of a random house, because the camera angle that the director took was from the top view of the fight, and it shows more dynamics of the scene.

La La Land – Cat Sandoval and Nora Garlick

Our favorite scene from La La Land is when they sing “A Lovely Night.” We love it because it's the most iconic scene in the movie with the most iconic music ever. It also showcases the dance style tap, which is a very underappreciated style of dance. This scene shows the beauty of how dance can bring people together.

Lord of the Rings – Katya Kuzmenko and Sharis Hsu

Our favorite scene from Lord of the Rings is when Eowyn shouts, “I am no man” as she stabs the Witch King. Seemingly facing a hopeless situation with her father dying on the ground, Eowyn fights against not only an immortal opponent, but years of being told her place as a woman. With our piece we hope to portray a similar sense of overcoming; exploiting dance, rather than century long loopholes, to defy expectations.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children – Ekaterina Kuzmenko and Lucy Xie

Our favorite scene from Mrs. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is the short rendition of Jake's journey through the different time loops at the end of the movie to reunite with his friends. Throughout the film, there is an underlying sense of sadness as Jake discovers that the stories he adored growing up actually harbored a world that was less than perfect. In order to maintain their safety, his childhood protagonists had to repeat the same day for decades, constantly reliving the grief of their friend's death and missing out on experiences in the real world around them. However, near the end, the children have to exit the time loop and learn to survive in the outside world, and Jake's journey highlights their newfound freedom, as the loops transform from the confined cage they once were to a tool for transportation and connection.

Notting Hill – Rebecca Rebello

My favorite scene is when Hugh Grant walks through the street while this song is playing, and the seasons change to represent the year going by.

Soul – Adrina Hsieh

I don't think that I can pinpoint a certain favorite scene from the movie Soul. I think that as a dancer, I can relate to Joe and his spark. The movie focuses on the idea that a spark isn't a soul's purpose; it is your reason for living. The movie inspires those watching to seek their own spark. For me, my spark is dancing and sharing God's love through something I love doing.

Tangled – Rebecca Rebello

My favorite scene is when Flynn takes Rapunzel to see the lanterns because it was her lifelong dream to see them in person.

SUMMER DANCE CAMP

JUNE 10-21, 2024 for students entering 1

st -8 th grade

Vivid 2 - The Dance Team Experience

Dates

June 10-21

(Closed June 19)

(Monday-Friday)

Time 1pm-4pm

Cost

$400 Grades

Entering Grades 1-8

(Co-Ed)

Location

High School Theatre

100 Skyway Drive

San Jose, CA 95111

Coaches

Mrs. Colette Evans

Miss Megan Stagi

Vivid Dance Team

Sponsored and facilitated by the members of Valley Christian’s Vivid Dance Team, Vivid 2 - The Dance Team Experience introduces young dancers to the fast-paced, exciting world of competition dance teams! Dancers will learn cutting-edge routines, develop team spirit, and have an awesome time, all while improving their performance skills and dance technique! Dance Camp culminates with a dynamic performance that highlights the combinations and techniques learned over the two weeks. Let’s dance! Come and be a part of our nationally-ranked team!

No camp on Wednesday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth.

Camp Performance Friday, June 21 at 3PM in the VCHS Theatre

Note: Daily snack and camp t-shirt included. Students will need to provide jazz shoes. If you have questions, or if all spots are full when you go to register, please contact Colette Evans at cevans@vcs.net to be placed on a waitlist.

WARRIOR FUND

Tuition funds operations. Philanthropy fuels vision. Every gift makes a difference, so please consider donating to the Warrior Fund today.

EVENTS

uest Ball

presented by Extend the Gift

April 5, 2025

Join us for our annual Quest Ball dinner and auction. Enjoy a night to honor and celebrate the Warrior legacy and Extend the Gift for current and future Warriors. vcs.net/questball

May 13, 2024

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.

God assured Abraham of keeping His promise to grant the land to Abraham’s descendants. Shechem holds a significant place in this narrative—it’s where Jacob excavated a well and erected an altar, where Joseph’s family laid his remains to rest, where Joshua delivered his parting words in service to the Lord, and where Jesus revealed Himself as the Messiah to the Samaritan woman at the well (Genesis 12:6, 33:18, Joshua 24:26, John 4:12). Shechem stands as a powerful symbol of God’s faithfulness across generations. We fervently pray that VCS, like Shechem, will serve as a reminder of God’s unwavering faithfulness in Silicon Valley and worldwide.

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