The following students have been named as nominees for the 2021 Artist of the Year in dance. We received 94 nominations from teachers and private instructors at Orange County high schools and arts organizations.
This arts discipline has been divided into four specialties: commercial dance, concert dance, street dance, and world/cultural dance. Semifinalists in each specialty will be chosen by a panel of dance teachers and announced in April at ocregister.com.
The nominees are listed with an endorsement from their nominating teacher and a link to the student’s work.
COMMERCIAL DANCE
Sofia Gabriela Ayala
“Sofia is a wonderful dancer who really is living and expressing who she is while she dances. Her passion is evident and you find yourself moving with her as she goes. She is a versatile mover and has the ability to change her energy and dynamics to match the mood of whatever style she is dancing. She’s so fun to watch!” — Andrea Oberlander, Fullerton Union High School
Fynnleigh Barber
“When watching Fynnleigh dance, you can’t help but follow along on the journey with her. She’s exciting to watch and she has the ability to adapt with whatever style she is performing. As a jazz dancer, she is technical and attacks her movements with strength and precision. She works hard to make her efforts look seamless and does not rest until things are perfected.” — Andrea Oberlander, Fullerton Union High School
Kelcie L Barbour
“Kelcie embodies such grace and elegance when she dances. She’s long, lean and has beautiful lines. Although she can carry herself with such grace, she also has the ability to switch gears and be hard hitting when needed. Kelcie is a talented contemporary dancer but you can see her ballet technique shining through in her control and strength behind her movements.” — Andrea Oberlander, Fullerton Union High School
Lauren Beamer
“Watching Lauren perform always brings warmth to my heart and sometimes even tears to my eyes. Although she is not a student that has spent countless hours in a studio her deduction within her movement certainly makes up for it. What is artistry if not someone’s emotions radiating out and impacting the people around them.” — Hector Brambila, Canyon High School
Cierra Bennette
“Cierra comes to our (dance class) with a smile every morning. She comes prepared, ready to learn, and with great humbleness. As a dancer, her technique is strong, and as an artist she is continuously growing. I can always depend on Cierra to have input in class, help other dancers, and create original movement phrases when asked.” — Chrissie Leong, Garden Grove High School
Kellianne Bogart
“The quality that sticks out most to me about Kellianne is her commitment to her craft. Not only does she bring a strong work ethic to class and practice, but she continually takes time out of her personal life and dedicates it to dance and to her team. She is a student that goes above and beyond what is asked of her and always will challenge herself to grow.” — Arielle Kalina, Santa Margarita Catholic High School
Kendall Carney
“She has always been a great artist but over the years, I’ve really watched her flourish and mature. Her movement quality is excellent and she is able to explore more in her movement. She’s created almost her own style. When I see it, I think, that’s Kendall. It’s very original, organic, and fluid.” — Kristine Calder, San Juan Hills High School
Emma Castro
“Emma has a natural talent for dance and choreography. The effortless way she translates choreography allows you to feel the intended emotion of the piece and get lost in its message. She has trained in multiple styles of dance including contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, and lyrical.” — Taylor Finnerty, Trabuco Hills High School
Sophia Chung
“She works very hard and yet she looks like she is not working at all, a true artist! She has consistently worked hard at every stage, she is disciplined and focused and understands what it takes to achieve artistic goals. Her musicality and strong line can take you away and allow her audience to just experience beauty.” — Judy Scialpi, Northwood High School
Jasmine Alyssa Clark
“Jazzy Clark is synonymous with JOY! Everything Jazzy does brings joy — to her peers, to her audiences, to our drama program. She is an immensely talented and expressive dancer. She has been a featured dancer in all of our main stage productions and has received awards and accolades for her stage presence.” — Kirsti McCleary, San Clemente High School
Mackenzie Clark
“Mackenzie is an incredibly talented dancer and choreographer. Her infectious stage presence and effortless transitions make her a crowd favorite on our stage. Mackenzie has trained in multiple styles of dance including contemporary, jazz, and lyrical.” — Taylor Finnerty, Trabuco Hills High School
Kaitlyn Cork
“Kaitlyn Cork is an especially talented dancer who is well-versed in jazz, hip hop, and contemporary. She is a magnet on the stage with her expressive facials and moves through dance routines with grace and ease.” — Taylor Finnerty, Trabuco Hills High School
Jaden DaRe
“Jaden is a standout dancer and performer. Whether she is dancing on the stage for a full house or running a routine for the hundredth time, she gives it her all and pushes herself as a dancer. She brings a special performance quality to all her pieces; something that is innate and natural and is not easily taught. Jaden’s artistic vision to grasp the bigger picture and perform at her highest capability is part of what makes her such an interesting dancer to watch.” — Taylor Finnerty, Trabuco Hills High School
Stephanie Dy
“I love working with Steph because she is willing and open to feedback which has allowed her to grow into the dancer she is today. Even though she is the strongest dancer on the team she still wants to get better and take and apply all criticism given. The team looks up to her for her unique style of dancing that catches everyone’s eye. She is a powerful performer that you can’t stop watching.” — Meshell Salas, Yorba Linda High School
Jacqueline Escamilla
“Jackie is the most naturally gifted choreographer I have worked with. She has minimal training but when she dances she exudes emotion, charisma, attitude, confidence, she is a firecracker on stage and the audience can’t take their eyes off of her. Jackie works extremely hard in class and goes above and beyond. She is the type of person that will learn every part of choreography and is the go-to person if any dancers have any questions.” — Oscar Gonzalez, Anaheim High School
Brittany Fisheli
“Focusing on Brittany as a dancer- I am so impressed by how talented she is in many dance genres. She is excellent in jazz and musical theatre, but she is a very talented tap dancer. I know she began her training at a young age, but she continues to grow and increase in her performance abilities.” — Andrea Oberlander, Fullerton Union High School
Hailey Flowers
“She is the sweetest student I’ve ever had. She is kind, respectful, hard working and cares for others. She is talented in many genres of dance. She has been a member of our modern dance conservatory for four years. She has delved into modern dance and understands concepts, history and movement exploration. She is also a wonderful choreographer and is very easy to work with.” — Kristine Calder, San Juan Hills High School
Madelyn Gallagher
“She has nearly flawless technique when she dances but it has been nothing short of miraculous to watch her hone that technique and also allow herself to grow into an artist. I feel especially in dance, the more talented a dancer often the more “controlled” they are. It has been a pleasure to watch Maddy let go of some of that control, take some chances and truly emerge as a magnificent artist. To watch her perform is nothing short of breathtaking.” — Shan Lawson, El Dorado High School
Kassandra Garcia
“Since we have been distance learning, Kassandra has created some stunning solos from her living room. The passion she feels when dancing to the music is palpable, even through the computer screen! She is a mature, supportive & creative student who is always game help the class or our program.” — Maggie Ochoa, Katella High School
Elijah Golembiewski
“Elijah is a gifted dancer — jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, partner-dancing. He began in the arts as a dancer as a young boy, but found his love on the stage in musical theater. He has graced our stage as a featured dancer in our productions and learns choreography quickly and easily.” — Kirsti McCleary, San Clemente High School
Presley Green
“I can confidently say that she is one of the top dance students I have ever worked with in my career not only for her artistic talents, but also for her work ethic, drive and creative capabilities. She has continued to only grow stronger as a dancer and a leader during the challenging times of COVID, and she continues to find innovative ways to work on her craft as a true young professional.” — Jamie Tanzer, Newport Harbor High School
Jacey Greene
“This little one is a firecracker. She is tiny but mighty. She lives at her studio and trains everyday. She appreciates the art form for its artistic quality. She’s my hungry artist. Always wanting to do more, explore more, add more, create more.” — Kristine Calder, San Juan Hills High School
Maddison Hernandez
“Maddison’s natural spark for dance has grown so much since I began working with her nearly a decade ago. I have seen her grow into a phenomenal dancer. She has such an intense connection to the emotion and musicality of the music. She feels it and that feeling is spread to all those watching.” — Hanne Schmidt, Woodbridge High School
Olivia Man Jiang
“When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the world into lockdown, Olivia took to dancing in the quiet of her living room to pass the time. Her videos exude a raw emotion that can be felt even through a 3×5″ phone screen — and her hip hop dances are as beautiful as her contemporary ones.” — Jillian Dean, Aliso Niguel High School
Christine Kao
“Her technique is incredible, including control of movement, flexibility, strength, attack and dynamic range, musicality, and her performance qualities draw the audience into her story. Her choreography is unique because she challenges the expected by utilizing powerful movements and surprising musical intricacies. There is never a dull moment in her work as she brings others in right away and keeps you magnetically involved in her dancing until the lights dim.” — Kirsten Harvey, St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
Annabelle Kim
“Throughout the year I have seen Annabelle take the challenges that were presented to her and create wonderful art through it all. She has stepped up and led her team well. From helping to choreograph a routine for a school fundraiser to creating the flyer for the event and even editing the video footage, Annabelle has proven that she can do it all. She has developed her artistic voice and she has done a great job in expressing it through her movement.” — Kelly Mayton, Crean Lutheran High School
Caroline Kinsey
“Caroline is a caring, passionate, and fluid dancer. She is not only able to learn choreography quickly while adding her own personality to it, but she also can create movement that is innovative, inspiring to her peers, and textured. Her musicality is top notch and she dances well within the pocket of music. Caroline is grounded while also lifted, and her ability to move through space is long, lean, and limitless.” — Kirsten Harvey, St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
Kailey Lagestee
“The impact that dance has had on her life is apparent when she is performing. Her stylistic range brings out the maturity in her artistry as a dancer. Kailey has a talent that most would envy, but is also one of the most humble dancers and humans. She always has a smile on her face and cares for those around her.” — Arielle Kalina, Santa Margarita Catholic High School
Lucy Michelle Manzer
“Everything related to dance just seems to be so natural and effortless for Lucy. Her emotion expressed through her movement is captivating and she can mesmerize an entire audience all by herself on the stage. With Lucy’s level of talent, she is surprisingly modest. As a leader she is genuine and truly inspires and supports all of her peers.” — Teri Ross, La Habra High School
Calista McCanna
“She’s my musically artistic artist. Her musicality is incredible. She just knows where the pocket is and gets it! She knows how to move her body well and really knows how to explore movement well. She creates original works often and they are very creative and well thought out.” — Kristine Calder, San Juan Hills High School
Kaitlin Miranda
“She is the type of student that a teacher hopes to have, her determination, positive outlook, and attention to detail set her apart and will take her into a future of performing. Kaitlin always wears a strong smile (even under a mask) full of energy and ready to work. Kaitlin is a true triple threat student, she has developed her artistic path in all aspects of Musical Theatre, she shows no favoritism, she works hard at everything!” — Judy Scialpi, Northwood High School
Sofia Nelson
“The first day I met Sofia was during a tutorial. She came to my classroom with one of my non-dance majors, who is blind, to learn the choreography of our class dance with the intent to work with her outside of class. This blew my mind that a student was giving up their own time to help out another student.” — Andrea Taylor, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts
Shreya Patel
“Shreya has a sweet, low-key personality, which often means she might initially fly under the radar, but once she’s onstage, she’s undeniably a star. With spectacular control and versatility, she is able to showcase her phenomenal technique where she has trained extensively in a variety of styles (ballet, contemporary, jazz, and Bharatanatyam (classical Indian dance). Cutting corners is never an option as Shreya proves to work incredibly hard both on and off the stage, revealing a type of confidence one rarely sees in a teenager.” — Alison Wills Ed.D., Troy High School
Kaylia Pham
“Kaylia is an exciting dancer who is an artist who explores and takes risks with her dance. She has been our dance captain for musical theatre/dance production class. She is a patient and generous leader who truly loves to dance.” — Kathy Harris, Mission Viejo High School
Elizabeth Raburn
“Her dancing is full of sassy facial expressions, and spectacular leg extension. She brings creativity with her choreography and always presents pieces for our concerts. She is a well rounded dancer, student, and artist.” — Claire Zabaneh, El Modena High School
Lizbeth Real
“Liz comes from a gymnastics background and has been gifted with beautiful extensions and hyper-extended legs. In class Liz works extremely hard and is always looking for additional exercises and classes to help further her technique and dance vocabulary in all forms of dance. She is an individual with a strong and positive drive, her work ethic is unlike any other student of her age.” — Oscar Gonzalez, Anaheim High School
Jamie Jo Redmond
“Jamie is a dancer that leads with her passion. Her love for dance is clear when she performs. Jamie’s movement and performance quality stands out above the rest. She is such a strong, dynamic dancer that makes her movement look completely effortless.” — Arielle Kalina, Santa Margarita Catholic High School
Janna Redmond
“She has a truly remarkable individual style and movement quality to her dancing. Janna stands out as a soloist in a group of dancers solely because of her movement. She has that “it” factor about her that draws your attention. Janna, as a mover, displays such a clear connection and intention behind all she does. As a performer, she understands how to tell a story to her audience.” — Arielle Kalina, Santa Margarita Catholic High School
Abigail Reyes
“Abbie’s technique and artistry are unsurpassed. She has the ability to draw the audience in and tell a story through her performance. Her sense of dance maturity is something I haven’t seen in many High School students. Her technique is strong and her talent is natural but it’s her ability to express herself through dance that shows a true understanding of this art.” — Kelly Mayton, Crean Lutheran High School
Sydney S Robinson
“She is well trained in Cecchetti ballet which requires a high level of technique as well as artistry in all forms of dance. Her height and beautiful extension allow her to use space with ease and grace. As a choreographer, she has amazing creativity in her composition work. She is also an excellent student in learning the history of dance and appreciates the contributions of dancers, choreographers, and companies who have advanced the art form of dance.” — Claire Zabaneh, El Modena High School
Alyssa Santos
“Alyssa truly loves to dance and any “free time” she might have is spent in the studio or even at home working on becoming a better dancer and performer. When Alyssa hits the stage or the competition floor, you can see the pure joy that dance brings her. She absolutely just lights up and I truly believe she lives to perform.” — Lissy Burboa, Rosary Academy
Mina Shaffer
“Mina Shaffer has been one of the most inspiring young dancers that I have taught this semester. She persevered through the struggles and difficult moments that were presented to her and came out stronger because of it. She is one of those dancers who “just gets it”. No matter what style and no matter how challenging, she continues to shine.” — Kelly Mayton, Crean Lutheran High School
Bayleigh Shapard
“From day one, Bayleigh Shapard has brought her positivity and artistry to class. She is a wonderful asset to our dance company. Her engagement in the creative process while we worked to put together several recorded pieces was great to see. She worked so well with her teammates while adding her creative voice to the process. The way she hears and interprets music is beautiful.” — Kelly Mayton, Crean Lutheran High School
Danielle Silver
“Dani is a highly skilled, versatile dancer! For me, the thing that really makes Dani special who she is as a person. Like many dancers, she has faced the adversity of serious injury. While this was no doubt frustrating for Dani, she used her time out to invest in the culture and community of dance.” — Rochelle Mapes, Orange County School of the Arts
Bailee Steadman
“She is a powerful performer that you can’t stop watching. She is positive and easy to work with. She is respectful and gracious with everyone she comes in contact with. I can rely on her to be ready and be prepared for anything.” — Meshell Salas, Yorba Linda High School
Jamie Stepanian
“She expects this excellence out of herself the most. She is a great example to all whether she is on or off the dance floor. Jamie is a very strong and talented dancer in all genres: ballet, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, tap, however I think her strongest genre is lyrical because she has a strong background in jazz and ballet technique.” — Jennifer Blomquist, Orange Lutheran High School
Ava Grace Stevins
“She is such a great performer and a joy to watch on stage. She also loves exploring different genres of music to dance to and even has the time to put together music mixes which we have used for choreography. All this being said, Ava maintains being a great student and has a great attitude everyday, welcoming our dancers to each and every class or practice probably because she is the first in the door ready to go!” — Jennifer Blomquist, Orange Lutheran High School
Camellia Thomas
“Cami is a passionate, powerful dynamo of a dancer. She is able to learn and choreograph a variety of dance styles including contemporary, jazz, musical theater, and acrobatic inspired dance. Her technical ability often makes the audience gasp in wonderment. She is grounded, character driven, and has some mysterious qualities about her that really draws the viewer in.” — Kirsten Harvey, St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
Skylar Thomas
“Her style is a combination of contemporary with influence of both hip hop and lyrical. I have given her many opportunities to choreograph and one of the reasons that her pieces are so magnificent is she takes her audience on a journey. She allows people to see what she is thinking and feeling through her movement. It truly is magical to watch.” — Lindsey Lee, Dana Hills High School
Starla Thomas
“Starla is one of the most talented students that I have had the privilege of teaching. Starla has experienced some very difficult events in her personal life and she has been able to cope through the art form of dance. Dance is her passion and that is evident every single time she takes the stage. She is determined, driven and passionate about the pieces that she creates. She is also an experienced choreographer and a respected among her peers.” — Lindsey Lee, Dana Hills High School
Dawson Charles Walker
“When you first meet Dawson Walker, you might not think he would be a dancer. Maybe a soccer player or jock, but not the mature power house dancer he is. The more you learn about the hardships in health you realize that he uses those struggles to inform his choices as an artist. Every movement is purposeful and communicates pain, joy, humor and empathy.” — Nicole Berger, Orange County School of the Arts
Mackenzie Wong
“Mackenzie is a highly talented dancer in technique, work ethic, and performance quality. She is blessed with long lines, beautiful flexibility, and an ease with acro skills. Although all of these qualities make her a stand out dancer, it is her captivating performance quality that demands and audience’s attention. She truly strives to capture the choreographer’s story and vision.” — Hanne Schmidt, Woodbridge High School
Renee Yang
“When teaching and working with Renee, there is such an ease and trust because she is such a hard worker. There is never a note given that isn’t received and applied. It is through her dedication to the craft that you can see her passion for dance flourish. Renee is also a very gifted choreographer. Not only is her stage imagery extremely mature for her age, but she has a knack for choreography on film. When we first saw her first dance film project, we were left in awe.” — Diane Makas, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts
Ashley Zarate
“She started out as a perfect ballerina and has evolved into an all around talented dancer and choreographer. She loves challenging herself by learning and practicing new styles any opportunity she may have. I have enjoyed watching Ashley grow into a confident and strong leader. She not only pushes herself to work outside of her comfort zone, but she inspires others to do so as well.” — Teri Ross, La Habra High School
CONCERT DANCE
Corah Abbott
“Corah is a versatile and proficient dancer who has matured into a beautiful artist. She morphs between ballet and modern with confidence and ease and has garnered the attention of many guest modern choreographers with her long lithe body, beautiful lines, and ability to move quickly with accuracy and abandon.” — Steven B. Hyde, Orange County School of the Arts
Michael Anthony Ambriz
“Michael is a dream to have in class. He is the most hardworking and devoted dancer I have had. Hist professionalism exudes in class in rehearsal and on stage. Not only is Michael a gifted dancer he is also an innovative choreographer. His creativity transcends his age, he goes above and beyond when developing a theme for choreography.” — Oscar Gonzalez, Anaheim High School
Michaela Maureen Capulong
“My first experience watching Michaela dance was extremely memorable. I immediately recognized her talent and potential for classical ballet. She possesses all the facilities necessary to become a ballerina. Her lovely feet, lines and an expressive quality while performing are to be commended.” — Brande Dunn, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts
Lyla Davey
“She is something of a chameleon, showing off different styles with ease and beauty. Her voice on stage is extremely strong and loud as she dances with pure passion, fullness and power. Being able to watch Lyla on stage is truly captivating, and can move your soul, she continues to take my breath away when performing year after year!” — Bridgette Burnett, Huntington Academy of Dance
Bella Dunn
“She is classically trained in the Vaganova Method and works daily to develop her strengths and improve her weaknesses. She is determined and disciplined and loves the art of ballet and learning and dancing new repertoire.” — Brande Dunn, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts
Ella DuPree
“Ella is a dedicated student who puts her heart into everything that she does and continues to find new ways to step outside of her comfort zone. Over the past three years, I have seen Ella grow in her artistry as a dancer and you can see her love and passion for dance in her performances.” — Megan Morphis, Crean Lutheran High School
Grace Fernquist
“She is my driven artist. She knows what she wants to do and she will work and work until she achieves that goal. She will be continuing her dance education in college and has been working hard on her college application, video submissions and auditions. She is creative and loves to choreograph as well.” — Kristine Calder, San Juan Hills High School
Jessie Ann Hernandez
“Jessie is known as the go-to dancer. She has been able to master technique in almost every style of dance, which is every teacher and choreographers dream. When Jessie is dancing in class or on stage, there is a sense of belonging and homestead that emotes from her. Jessie also shines in choreography. She portrays a choreographic voice beyond her years. Her passion for artistry shows through her exploration of choreographic elements and it is awe-inspiring to watch her immerse herself in her work.” — Diane Makas, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts
Malia Holdredge
“Malia is an extremely focused dancer and it shows through her ability to multitask as a dancer/choreographer. Something that sets Malia apart from other dancers is her artistic vision to incorporate emotional levels into every performance. As a dancer, she is drawn to challenging pieces that speak to the heart and have a strong emotional meaning; as a choreographer, she knows how to read her target audience perfectly and never ceases to give them what they want.” — Taylor Finnerty, Trabuco Hills High School
Ashley Koclanis
“She is my exploratory artist. She likes to choreograph and play with movement. She is passionate about the art form and likes to challenge herself with new concepts. She is also one of my know nothing about modern dance studio kids. But since joining our modern dance conservatory, she has really grown to love it. She is a wonderful example of explore more and you will get more.” — Kristine Calder, San Juan Hills High School
Emily Kraack
“Emily is a great performer and is definitely someone who catches your eye on stage. She has great performing skills and a vivacious smile. She draws in the audience when she dances and is captivating with her skills. She picks up choreography quickly and isn’t afraid to ask questions.” — Meshell Salas, Yorba Linda High School
Annalise Marie Leavey
“he has grown in different styles, her work ethic, and in choreographing. As a dancer it is important to choreograph and she has had many opportunities to do so and in many different styles. She will work on all sorts of technique, her dances, and even her choreography until she has it correct. That aspect alone just shows the type of dancer/person she is.” — Samantha Rossi, JSerra Catholic High School
Andrea Leon
“One thing that stands out the most about Andrea is her artistry within her movement. She has such a unique style to her dancing that initially caught my eye. As she dances she seems as though she is continuously playing with her dynamics which, in turn, makes her movement so enjoyable to watch.” — Arielle Kalina, Santa Margarita Catholic High School
Madison Lynch
“Madison is a goal oriented young person, who plans to pursue dance post high school and forge a career for herself as a dance professional. Towards this end, she pours herself into her training and it produces remarkable results. She is a brilliant performer who makes intelligent choices on the stage, causing one’s eye to be drawn to her, even in ensemble pieces.” — Marie Hoffman, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts
Ava McCoy
“Aside from her work ethic, Ava is a powerful dancer and performer. Everything she does seems to come from a genuine place. Her movement is dynamic, athletic, and eye catching. Her performance is real, intentional, and intriguing. All of these qualities of Ava’s dancing stem from her passion for it.” — Arielle Kalina, Santa Margarita Catholic High School
Valerie Noemi Mendez
“Valerie is a gifted dancer, performer, student and choreographer. She has a natural gift to dance, when Valerie dance contemporary and modern her movement flows in such a beautiful way that leaves the audience mesmerized. She works extremely hard in class and in rehearsals, she is a perfectionist and 99% of the time executes choreography to a perfection.” — Oscar Gonzalez, Anaheim High School
Ava Olsen
“She is a very kind and sweet student. She is my hard working artist. She is one of those “try and try again until I get it” kind of dancers. I love that quality about her. She is a driven artist and determined to get each step right. She is also a choreographer and works with others well.” — Kristine Calder, San Juan Hills High School
Sarah Elizabeth Palmer
“Sarah is an incredibly talented dancer and choreographer. The fluidity and effortless movements of her craft transports you into the emotion of the piece she is dancing. She has trained in multiple styles of dance including ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, and lyrical. Sarah also choreographs artistic dances for our semester showcases. Watching Sarah’s choreography come to life on stage is always trilling and heartfelt.” — Taylor Finnerty, Trabuco Hills High School
Katelyn Potyondy
“She loves all genres of dance but her specialty is being a technician so ballet is definitely her strength, taking class everyday, pushing herself to be better each and everyday. Her competitive spirit pushes her to compete YAGP where she loves performing pointe variations as well as self-choreographed ballet contemporary pieces.” — Jennifer Blomquist, Orange Lutheran High School
Ian Francisco Roman
“Impacting others through dance is what excites and motivates Ian to continue to transform audience perspective through art and inspire his peers. Ian’s attributes and demeanor make it easy to support his dreams of dancing professionally, and his kindness towards others unites those around him to follow suit. Ian is humble and relatively shy, but it’s within his humility where others can learn talent is not synonymous with boastfulness or arrogance and in an effort to feel prideful of one’s accomplishments, it isn’t necessary to belittle others in the process.” — Steven B Hyde, Orange County School of the Arts
Jeslyn Leigh Russell
“Jeslyn has dedicated her life to the study of her beloved art form and has always been open and eager to learn new facets of it whenever possible. She accepts challenges and seeks opportunities, and has proven to be an exceptional student and artist. There is nothing related to the art of dance that Ms. Russell is incapable of achieving.” — Marie Hoffman, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts
Kennedy Santini
“Over the years, Kennedy’s performance value has continued to grow to match her technical skill level. She has challenged herself …to find a deeper connection and meaning with her movement and performance. She has learned how to create movement with intention and authenticity. Overall, Kennedy brings such strong talent to her art form, but never settles for being complacent where she is at. She will always bring a clear focus and will work to surpass her goals.” — Arielle Kalina, Santa Margarita Catholic High School
Ella Schoenig
“Ella is always professional when working with her peers, and she always strives for academic excellence. She is the type of student that is dependable, always prepared, and gives 100 percent in whatever she is doing. She is knowledgeable and passionate about dance.” — Lauren Shimabukuro, San Clemente High School
Yuki Tanizaki
“Yuki is an incredibly talented dancer and choreographer. The fluidity and effortless movements of her dancing makes you forget that you are watching a high school dancer and makes you feel like you are in the presence of a professional.” — Taylor Finnerty, Trabuco Hills High School
Sophie Taylor
“Sophie is one of the best ballet technicians I have trained, through and through, but she is so much more than that. Sophie lives and breathes dance- it is her passion as well as her escape. When you look at her, Sophie has a strong and stoic presence– one that you would expect from a future professional ballerina that was adopted into an American family from Russia; but when she’s in her element, you can see her inner emotion run all the way to her fingertips and the tips of her perfectly pointed toes.” — Jillian Dean, Aliso Niguel High School
Sophie Tran
“She comes to class and practice ready to work while genuinely enjoying her training and dancing along the way. Sophie has grown into a dancer that has dynamic versatility as well as a captivating stage presence. As a captain, she continuously works to build her team up to reach their goals.” — Arielle Kalina, Santa Margarita Catholic High School
STREET DANCE
Ella Biagtan
“Something that sets Ella apart from other dancers is her ability to truly attack the choreography. As a dancer, she is drawn to pieces that are uplifting, high energy, and challenging on many levels. Aside from her natural talent and amazing dancing ability, Ella is truly one of the most positive individuals I have ever met.” — Taylor Finnerty, Trabuco Hills High School
Kate Minh-Ha Dang
“Kate is vibrant student that is always ready to learn. Every day that I have had the pleasure of working with her, she has brought a focused, empathetic, and growth-mindset to class. She is an enthusiastic and energetic student, and a natural leader who is always ready to contribute to the class. She is collaborative and is always there for her peers and classmates when they need help.” — Samantha Gardner, Portola High School
Zaphera Fidelis
“Zaphera is a great performer and is definitely someone who catches your eye on stage. She has great performing skills and a vivacious smile. She draws in the audience when she dances and is captivating with her skills. She picks up choreography quickly and isn’t afraid to ask questions. She always performs full out and applies the feedback given.” — Meshell Salas, Yorba Linda High School
Eric Hao
“Eric is a magnetic and electric dancer and choreographer. As a performer, he pushes the boundaries of his energy and expression. As a choreographer, he is intricate, detailed, and drawn to complex stories and themes. In addition to his work as a young artist, he is an extremely dedicated student who excels in all of his class and manages to juggle his passions and his pursuit of excellence in academics.” — Samatha Gardner, Portola High School
Valeria Moreno
“Valeria is my ‘quiet in person and big on stage’ artist. She loves performing and shines on stage. She works hard and like to choregraph as well. Her favorite genre is hip hop. She moves her body well and is able to isolate. She can also be fierce and sassy.” — Kristine Calder, San Juan Hills High School
Kaitlyn Soobin Pak
“She is a well rounded dancer who can pretty much do anything asked of her. I love working with her because she is willing and open to feedback which has allowed her to grow into the dancer she is today. Even though she is a very strong dancer she still wants to get better and take and apply all criticism given. She is a powerful performer that you can’t stop watching.” — Meshell Salas, Yorba Linda High School
Aidan Rocchi
“Aidan’s artistic vision must be to uplift those around him through the art of dancing. His choreography is always fresh and he inspires other dancers to have fun and not take everything so seriously. Aidan’s love of dance is truly contagious and you can’t help but smile watching him dance. Aidan is also a talented actor who is heavily involved with the school’s drama program.” — Taylor Finnerty, Trabuco Hills High School
Steven Schulte
“Steven became interested in dance after watching his sisters excel at their art for years, but quickly set himself apart from following in anyone’s shadow. He lights up the stage with his amazing stage presence and hits those hard-hitting moves like a true street dancer. He is a talented dancer/choreographer and started assisting with choreography as a freshman.” — Taylor Finnerty, Trabuco Hills High School
Miranda Van
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“Miranda is such a unique dancer and choreographer, and I can only see her continuing to grow from here. Her musicality is so fine tuned that you are able to feel the intricacies of the music in her movement. Miranda is a successful hip hop dancer due to her ability to be smooth when needed and hard hitting, powerful in those moments that are more intense.” — Andrea Oberlander, Fullerton Union High School
WORLD/CULTURAL DANCE
Maya Elizabeth Alvarez-Coyne
“No matter the class, she approaches every opportunity to learn with tenacity. She loves to push the boundaries of her art by fusing styles and music. Even with the challenges of this pandemic, she has not stopped creating beautiful works with our school, as well as pieces virtually with other dancers. Through her prolific volunteer work, she spreads her joy and passion for the arts with others and has been a fantastic ambassador for our school and dance program.” — Aaron Chavarria, Orange County School of the Arts
Rodrigo Blanco
“Rodrigo is a focused and determined young man. He brings respect and dedication to the classroom that makes all students want to work with him. He works extremely hard to improve his skill set, which is evident by his strong performances.” — Marlene Peña-Marin, Orange County School of the Arts
Karina Cuevas
“Karina Cuevas is an accomplished and is almost considered a professional folkloric dancer. She is a shining star on stage and has had the privilege to train and perform with highly esteemed folkloric dance groups. Karina is a dream to have in class, she is currently training in all forms of dance to become a well-rounded dancer.” — Oscar Gonzalez, Anaheim High School
Lucas McCollum-VanHoosear
“What stands out to me about this student as an artist is the way he applies himself; Lucas is the most aggressive learner I have ever had in a class or on a performance team. He makes sure that he understands every aspect of what each teacher is giving him, and, if something is not clear, Lucas will stay with it until he gains this knowledge to add it to what he can bring to the dance floor.” — Robert Porch, Orange County School of the Arts
Rodrigo Francisco Rea
“His passion for this dance form is evident when he performs as he brings such quality to each movement. He educates the audience about Mexican culture through dance and has come to understand the importance of carrying on this tradition. He transcends performance and becomes an advocate for his community.” — Marlene Peña-Marin, Orange County School of the Arts
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March 21, 2021 at 08:59PM
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Artist of the Year 2021: Dance nominees - OCRegister
"artist" - Google News
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