Dance can be a form of art that people use to express emotions and connect with others. This can be proven throughout history, dating back to ancient cultures through today with the trending dances appearing on social media.
KHS’s dance program held a performance here at Kenwood High School on Friday, May 1, that featured choreograph from students and professional choreographers like Aliyah Feaux and Ms. McAfee, our one and only dance teacher.
Ms. McAfee, who choreographed a number of the dances at the concert shares, “We focus on warming up our bodies up appropriately so we can dance full out. We also talk about confidence and performance presence.” Our minds are really what makes or breaks our performance so focusing on confidence really helped a lot she went on to share.
Ms. McAfee also says this, “I think it’s important for people to support the arts because if we don’t support the arts, we will lose them.” Unfortunately, due to all the recent BCPS cuts, Kenwood’s Dance program was one of the things cut in next year’s budget.
So Friday’s performance was more special than usual. The auditorium was alive with music and cheering as family filled seats to support student dancers.
One of the performers, Sameera Khan, loves seeing all the support. “It’s nice to see people out there, cheering their kids on in something they enjoy.” To know that students have that support system while coming out of their comfort zone can really help enhance not only a performance but other parts of a student’s life as well.
Another performer Harrlum Gordon, a junior who performed a solo piece at the concert gives her final thoughts, “I felt like it was gonna be my last time doing dance class so I wanted to actually perform on stage something of my own.” The concert really was a last hoorah for the dance program and it was really beautiful to see others give it their all.
Kenwood’s Dance Program began in 2020 and won two national championships in 2023 and 2024.
“To dance is to be out of yourself—larger, more powerful, more beautiful. This is power, it is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking.” — Agnes de Mille
