As the curtains rose on the Performing Arts Mainstage over the weekend, Pierce dance students were accompanied by guest performers from Taft Charter High School.
The Pierce College Dance Company showcased its 2024 Fall Dance Concert, “Inherent Flux,” at the Performing Arts Mainstage from Nov. 22 to Nov. 24.
The concert featured an array of musical and dancing styles, which were choreographed by both staff and students. The performers danced to a mix of genres and artists, from Michael Bublé to Kendrick Lamar to Lady Gaga.
Taft students danced across the stage to a combination of multiple R&B songs during the concert’s opening dance performance, “Pressure of Euphoric Love.” The show transitioned over to Pierce dancers’ performance of the act, “Transduce,” choreographed by instructor Denise Gibson.
Throughout the concert, the transitions between different genres kept Pierce student Lisa Braun engaged when she attended the first performance of “Inherent Flux.”
“The variety in music and dance was amazing to see and I felt fully emerged in it,” Braun said.
While reflecting on the feelings that the dances and music evoked, Braun said “it was an emotional rollercoaster in the best way possible filled with versatility.”
“With one moment we were swaying to jazz and the next we were hyped up by hip-hop,” Braun said.
As the concert progressed, Taft Dance Team dancers portrayed Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s musical rivalry with a rap and hip-hop segment. With one group of dancers wearing red and another pair in white, the dancers performed to the singers’ diss tracks about one another.
Attendee Jose Tapia found amusement in this performance, where he said he was caught by surprise.
“It was unexpected, but it was definitely my favorite part of the concert because it’s so cool seeing how the competitiveness and rivalry was shown through these young dancers.” Tapia said. “Watching them dance to my favorite rappers was overall entertaining and amusing, and you can sense the energy that the dancers were putting into each move.”
Gibson choreographed a Latin dance portion in the concert, “Nos Perdimos”, with the dancers dressed up in black and flowing outfits. This specific performance was the highlight of attendee Rosie Sanchez’s night.
“My favorite part was the Latin section,” Sanchez said. “Not only were the outfits beautiful, but the dance and music that came along with it as well.”
Sanchez expressed the enthusiasm she felt.
“The energy was infectious, and the dancers seemed to be having so much fun that it could make anyone in the crowd want to get up and join them,” Sanchez said.
Auditions for the Spring 2025 Dance Concert will be on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025 at 12 p.m. inside of the North Gym 5601 Dance Studio.
