These new fall shows at Mid-Pacific are catching the eyes of many! Mid-Pacific is known for their outstanding art program (MPSA) and there is no better way than to showcase that for the public of our school.
The Fall Dance Concert, which features hula and contemporary dance, and the high school production of Into the Woods, showcases the outstanding gifts of high school students, and are both a testament to the talent of the choreographers, directors, and student performers.
Mid-Pacific’s Fall Dance Concert brings together the entire MPSA dance department together onto one stage, showing the audience the diversity and stories the program has to offer. The MPSA dance program is designed around the idea of storytelling through movement, and the dance concert links all of that together, emphasizing harmony and unity.
“Hula is telling a story,” Kumu Lanakila, hula teacher, said, describing dance as “the art of expressing all that we see.”
Hula is not just a type of traditional dance, but one that holds lots of meaning and centuries of stories woven into movement.
“Our goal is to be able to perform well, to be able to tell the story,” Kumu said.
For choreographer Jose Silva, his main focus is on giving dancers a clear sense of purpose.
“When we have a goal like a concert, everything we do is working toward that,” Silva said. “It gives us something to shoot for.”
The preparation for the show is anything but easy, with students and choreographers working hard to put on a grand concert for all. Throughout the challenging rehearsal process, students have learned discipline and commitment.
“It’s definitely hard work, but when you’re on stage, it feels worth it. You can feel everyone’s energy coming together,” sophomore Emmy Espiritu said.
For the dance concert, it is not only focused on how you dance, but also how well your energy matches with the ones you are performing with.
Behind the curtain, the intense and longer rehearsals for the concert serve as a critical learning process, demanding discipline, commitment, and collaboration from the dancers as they balance practice, school, and home life. Teachers view the concert as a goal to work toward, while students see it as an opportunity to grow as performers and connect with peers who share their passion.
For this year’s fall production, the high schoolers are performing “Into the Woods,” which reimagines classic fairy tales by exploring what happens past their happily ever after. The musical brings different characters together like Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk. The story weaves all characters into a narrative that showcases family, responsibility, and the impact of choices.
Director of Into the Woods and the MPSA Theater Program, Ms. Johnson notes that the show is still a work in progress.
“A little slow in the beginning, but I think we’re doing good,” Johnson said, noting how each rehearsal has been an improvement from the last and the one before that.
The process has been both rewarding and challenging for the cast of the production.
“We’re definitely getting better at doing things in a consensus manner and learning things,” freshman Beatrix Colvin said.
At the end of the day, Johnson has ultimately been satisfied with the cast’s hard work during rehearsals.
Under Johnson's direction, the production has been pushing students past mere memorization to focus on creating authentic characters and a strong ensemble presence.
“I take a lot of pride in the fact that I put on musicals that are not only entertaining with good singing, but that my actors can act, and they can tell the story well,” she said cheerfully.
The Fall Dance Concert will be occurring at Leeward Community College on Nov. 7 and 8. Adding to the preparation, the level three and four hula classes are traveling to New Zealand just before the concert to immerse themselves in dance and culture.
Following the dance concert, the high school production of “Into the Woods” will take place on campus at the Kawaiaha’o Recital Hall from Nov. 12 through Nov. 22. These performances will not affect the school schedule, as the free shows for students, faculty, and staff are scheduled to run after school on Thursdays at 4pm.
With the performance dates nearing, both the cast and teachers for the Fall Dance Concert and “Into the Woods” are working hard to finalize their shows for the public and the Mid-Pacific community. “I find a lot of joy in seeing that all that hard work was worth it,” said Linda Johnson, director of “Into the Woods.”
