The Orchesis Dance Company held Arcadia High School (AHS)’s 2026 Dance Day on Feb. 7 at the Performing Arts Center (PAC). Dance Day was available for students in TK to 8th grade. The event was held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. with a dance display for parents and siblings from 3-4 p.m.
“The dancers spend the whole day with us, and we provide lunch; it’s a great way for students of all ages to experience dance at Arcadia and make new friends and connections with Orchesis members and other students their same age,” said Orchesis Director Mrs. Breanne Orlowsky.
The students started the day off by stretching and then learning choreographed dances and combinations set to be performed later.
Behind the scenes, choreographers “came together with their partners…and created a dance…with the song of their choice and then approved the dance and song through Mrs. Orlowsky,” explained Orchesis member sophomore Jaycee Wong.
The dance showcase started with the TK to first-grade group. The children danced to the song “Zoo” by Shakira, displaying simple steps and moves with Orchesis members dancing onstage alongside them.
The second dance included the second and third graders, who danced to the song “Symphony” by Zara Larsson, choreographed by Orchesis members sophomores Raechelle Kwong and Valerie Lam. This dance included partner movements and allowed the students to interact with each other and the Orchesis members.
The fourth and fifth graders danced to the song “Golden”, made for the hit movie KPop Demon Hunters. This dance was choreographed by sophomore Abby Clevenger. This dance was more complex and featured kicks and more choreography overall.
The final dance was choreographed by Orchesis members sophomores Lauren Wu and Brooklynn Tahajian. This dance was for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders to the song “Just Keep Watching” by Tate McRae, made for F1: The Movie. This dance featured more turns and elements that Orchesis typically uses in their dances and emphasized confidence in dancing.
To end the day, Orchesis performed three dances as a preview for their new spring show, “404: Identity Not Found,” which will be held in the PAC on Apr. 23, 24, and 25.
“Seeing the spring production is a really great way to see what Orchesis is about, and it’s a good showcase of the dancers’ abilities,” said Orchesis member Krista Caballeros.
The first dance from Orchesis was called “Caution” and was choreographed by seniors Charis Chung and Hazel Jung. It featured strong choreography based on the dance style of jazz and the notion of being careful as to not “lose” oneself.
The second dance was called “Contaminated” and was choreographed by Clevenger and junior Christopher Tsai. This was a more contemporary-based dance and conveyed the feeling of being lost because one is not totally themselves, but is rather “contaminated” by something.
The final dance for their spring preview was called “Peer Pressure” and was choreographed by junior Arielyn Luo and senior Rachel Shay. This was another contemporary dance and touched on how others around you shape your beliefs and actions, especially through peer pressure.
Dance Day was an opportunity for students of all ages to dance, make new connections, and gain a preview of Orchesis’ 2026 Spring Production.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ORCHESIS
