Daniella Trujillo is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Centennial High School for AZPreps365.com

Every semester, 190 students join one of three dance classes at Centennial High School in Peoria. These students create a three-night show for dancers' parents – and anyone from the community.

Anyone who is interested can join dance, and no matter their experience level, everyone starts at the  beginners level. After that, students can advance and eventually audition for performance dance. 

Every semester is a brand-new start for every student. While trying to prepare for a dance concert, every class grows and learns new skills. Students can learn various dance styles such as ballet, hip-hop, jazz, and more. 

These classes are taught by Sarah Garrigan, who has been teaching for more than 25 years, and Kimberly McFall, who has been teaching for 26 years.

Garrigan’s background in dance is mostly teaching in public education, but she has also taught at the studio level and for various non-profit organizations. She was trained by the Kennedy Center for Arts in Arts Integration and has trained educators on how to integrate movement into curriculum.

McFall took classical ballet training as a kid and took technique and pedagogy classes and workshops throughout her career at colleges, universities, and conferences.

 “You never stop learning and honing your skills,” McFall said. 

According to the fall 2022 advanced dance syllabus, some goals for the semester were, “Grow technically as a dancer, grow creatively as a choreographer, grow personally as a leader and a recipient of critique and expand horizons as you meet new people.” 

Every semester, each dance concert has a theme and performs dances revolving around this theme.

“Our themes for each dance concert are often driven by what’s going on in the world around us or by what’s happening in our microcosm,” Garrigan said. “Mrs. McFall and I discuss what best suits our choreography and music that fits the feeling and events going on. Sometimes we keep it simple and fun and just choose any fun theme.”

In the past, some themes have been “As We Go,” “Moving Beyond,” and “Just Dance,” which had positive meaning to keep going and looking forward to what is ahead. 

Centennial alumnus Kaitlyn Davis was a part of Centennial dance all four years of high school. She has experience in all three levels of dance and even went back after she graduated to help teach some of the classes. 

Some of her favorite memories are performing and going to rehearsals. She said those times brought everyone together.

“I think my favorite concert I ever had was my first concert while being a part of a performance dance," said Davis. "We had so many fun dances like Jai-Ho, Hot Chocolate from the Polar Express, Men in Black, and Where is My Mind. I felt like all my hard work paid off during my first performance and I had finally proved to myself I belonged where I was. I was surrounded by a bunch of dancers who had been dancing for years and I was the only one who had joined in high school, it was an amazing experience I wish I could have again.” 

Students are graded for smaller assignments, such as written and skills tests, choreography projects, and most importantly, participating in the dance concert, according to the fall 2022 syllabus. Both teachers have expressed that they provide a safe and creative environment for students to learn and explore creativity.

For many, this is not just a dance class. It’s a new interest and something they will remember after graduating. 

“Dancers can express non-verbal emotions in a way they feel safe. Often our students will feel anxious or have social issues going on,” Garrigan said. “When they come to dance class, they can dance through their anxiety or fears.” 

For some students, their goal is to make performance. In performance, students are expected to choreograph all their performances. McFall, who teaches performance, said those who are selected to take this class have helped them express themselves because they are forced to get out of their own way and give it their all.

In the past, students have choreographed to “finding God, through a divorce, losing a parent, depression, bullying, joy in their family culture, and finding strength,” McFall said. “They are able to take what is brooding inside and push it outside of themselves creativity.”

Students are encouraged to step out of their comfort zone and even audition to perform a solo, duo, or trio at the concert.

Davis said when she went back to help, she was excited to see the classes from a different perspective. 

“I had already seen the classes from the student side, but seeing it from the teacher side was a whole new experience,” Davis said. “I found out our teachers not only handled the classes, but they also had to make sure planning was perfect for our concerts. The amount of planning, time, and money that goes behind the scenes was very eye-opening.”

Taking dance has so many benefits and most students stick with dance until they graduate. Some students have even continued to dance after high school. 

“For some of our dancers, it’s the reason they come to school,” Garrigan said. 

Dance not only has an impact on the students, but on the teachers as well.

“I believe that human beings are dancers from the time they are in the womb," McFall said. "The first thing they hear is the heartbeat of their mother. But so many don’t get the opportunity to discover that about themselves. I consider it an honor to help people discover the energy in their muscles and combine it with the power of music.”

This isn’t just a dance class but a family. The Centennial Dance company works nonstop year after year to provide a happy and safe environment for students to express themself and find a new interests. 

If there was one takeaway people should know about dance, McFall said, “It’s challenging, it’s hard, it’s freeing, it’s therapeutic, and it’s joyful.”