On Oct. 12, Gabrielino High School’s dance team performed at the Rose Bowl, performing during the UCLA halftime show alongside other high schools. This marked a monumental moment for the newly established team, whom have yet to perform in front of a large crowd.
Dance coach Victoria Gallegos played a key role in securing the opportunity for the team to perform at the Rose Bowl.
“I actually just reached out to them to see if there was anything happening… Once we got accepted, the girls were in,” Gallegos stated.
While Gallegos secured the opportunity, the students were equally excited about the performance.
“Knowing that you’re able to be a part of something bigger than just yourself and putting yourself out there to perform in a stadium full of people is the most exciting part about performing for such a large audience.” Dance captain Aster Lam, senior, shared.
The halftime performance was a collaborative effort between multiple high schools, something Lam appreciated. “Collaborating with other schools was fun. Even though it was the same choreography, we got to see different stylistic aspects that different schools have,” Lam added.
Despite the scale of the event, the team mastered the choreography with impressive speed.
“We mastered it within two hours and then only had one one-hour practice, for a total of three hours,” said dance president Kylie Tran-Hoa, senior.
Despite the quick learning process, the routine itself was designed to be accessible. Created by UCLA cheerleaders, the routine was intentionally simple to accommodate dancers of all levels.
“It was a very poppy, jazz-funky routine,” Tran-Hoa added.
Tran-Hoa felt grateful to the team’s coach for creating opportunities like this one.
“I think [this was] an amazing opportunity, and we all would like to thank our coach for it because she’s working really hard to find these opportunities and get us in.”
In addition to the coach’s efforts, the team’s leadership also played a crucial role in their preparation. Vice President Julina Mireles, junior, played an important role in ensuring the team stayed organized and prepared for the performance.
“My role in preparation was to make sure that the whole team was moving at a steady pace, making sure everyone understood what we were doing and ensuring they were professional,” Mireles explained.
Mireles was also a driving force in motivating her teammates, helping them navigate any challenges that arose.
“We all had our own struggles, so I motivated them by helping and reassuring them that everything was going to be okay,” Mireles explained further.
Gallegos noted a significant difference between her teaching in the dance department and coaching the official team.
“In the team, I push them to pursue dance as a career. I bring in outside choreographers for hands-on training, focusing on deep techniques, covering more genres, and providing more performance opportunities.”
For Gallegos, the most rewarding part of the experience was watching her team perform on the field.
“Seeing their faces brighten up… once they actually performed at the game, it felt so rewarding,” Gallegos recalled.
Looking ahead, Gallegos hopes to make the Rose Bowl performance an annual tradition, and is already setting her sights on larger opportunities for the team.
“Not only do I want to make this an annual event, but I also want to start having them perform out of state and eventually compete,” Gallegos added.
The team’s performance at the Rose Bowl was a chance to express their growth and dedication, and they are eager for more opportunities to showcase their talent on even bigger stages in the future.
