Betwixt Dance Showcase

Betwixt was John Forrest Secondary College's Dance Showcase offering for 2024. This year's theme, "Betwixt," is two-fold. It reflects the space between two people, and the transitional phase our beautiful Year 12 students will experience as they move from finishing school to entering adulthood. It also marks a year that sees new faces and sustained energy, encouraging our dance department to shift and grow.

It ran over 2 nights, a first for our school, and was performed to sold-out audiences over both nights in our school theatre! Betwixt was a culmination of student choreography, industry workshops, featuring the varied dance work by WAAPA graduates, Ruby Michael and Drew Holloway as well as our very own, Denzel Mahusay, who returns to share his knowledge and love of dance with our current dance cohorts.

The shows featured an array of dance styles, from Hip hop to Latin ballroom, to Afrobeats, Contemporary, Cheerleading and Pacific Island dance. And for the first time also featured dancers from Grades 7 through to 12.

Betwixt was a true celebration of our students and their love of dance, in all its forms.

Choreographers Dancers Performance
Julia Gray, arrangement by Julia Quinn Year 12 dancers and Year 10 boys Hapakasi - This piece has been handed down from Julia Gray to Julia Quinn to her students. From old to new, that's how we go forward. Culture lives through the Arts.
Julia Gray, arrangement by Julia Quinn Year 12 girls Bora Bora -  This piece has been handed down from Julia Gray to Julia Quinn to her students. From old to new, that's how we go forward. Culture lives through the Arts.
Tayla Otley Tayla Otley Cringe - Cringe is a piece choreographed to capture the fight in your mind between trying to fit in with society and staying true to yourself. A highlight on the feeling as if no matter what you make others 'Cringe' and the art of making peace with your inner demons.
Nyaposh Yien, Tahlia Russo, Sim Kaur and Grace Obede Nyaposh Yien, Tahlia Russo, Sim Kaur, Grace Obede, Stella Wittkowsky, Jenelle Abello Sippin WOC - A group of WOC (Women of Colour) brought together by their love for African Dance. We are Sippin WOC
Princess Dela Torre, Tayla Otley, Tyler Bell and Julia Quinn Year 10.1 dancers Finesse - Bruno brings light and energy to our dancing days, also celebrating the talents of our clever Year 10 student choreographers
Ruby Michael and Year 12 Dancers Year 12 dancers Covering - Betwixt... the next step... 
Shanaya Bateson, Matilda Turley, Year 11 Dancers and Julia Quinn Year 11 dancers Catch Me - This piece came from creative collaboration.
Treasure Lugusa Treasure Lugusa Come For A Dance - This piece is about someone asking a person to dance with them.
Caitlyn Jeffries and Niyati Narula Caitlyn Jefferies Water - Water was created last year for fun when this song was going viral on social media. Water showcases the amapiano music style and incorporates some moves flowing with the beats of the song.
Ava Thompkin, Kyla McCance, Tessa Kelly, Isabella Pullen and Julia Quinn Year 9.3 and Year 9.4 dancers Get Loose - We had to create and learn this piece in 10 lessons! These dancers are AWESOME!
Zoe Smith Zoe Smith Knotty - Knotty is about two sides to a mental argument, your voice wanting to express something but your brain getting in the way and telling you otherwise.
Caitlyn Jeffries and Lucien Maart Caitlyn Jeffries and Lucien Maart Runaway Baby - This piece demonstrates how fun it is dancing with a partner, show cases both our personalities, and our love for the ballroom and Latin style in dancing in general. This took a lot of late-night rehearsals, sore heels and many turns later to make this piece dance show case ready.
Anique McCance Anique McCance Love In The Dark - This piece was created for my love of dance and performing for others. I hope everyone can enjoy and feel happy from this piece, just as I did when creating it.
Peri Dailly, Macey Kelly and Scarlett Edwards Peri Dailly, Macey Kelly and Scarlett Edwards Goosebumps - We are Year 7's who all love to dance and decided to audition for the Dance Showcase this year. We are so excited to show you our piece and hope you enjoy!
Drew Holloway and Julia Quinn Year 12 dancers Jai Ho - A dance adventure in commercial jazz, so enjoy the colour, energy and vibrancy.
Laura Spence Mia Taylor Personal Jesus - This routine is a jam packed routine full of jumps, flips, leaps and more. It's super energetic and shows how you should live your best life. 
Drew Holloway Year 11 Bang Bang - The industry workshops and choreographic exploration challenged both technique and stagecraft 
Kate Smith Kate Smith All Nite - The solo is a celebration of unfiltered joy and electrifying energy that comes from letting loose to your favourite song. It's all about getting lost in the rhythm, feeling the beat pulse through your body, and embracing the moment with confidence and style. This performance is a reminder to live in the moment, enjoy the music and dance like nobody's watching!
Mia Taylor, Reiane Dulay and Julia Quinn Year 10.2 dancers Lemon - A collaboration showcasing the choreographic talents of our Year 10 students. 
Niyati Narula and Jazmyn Soo Niyati Narula and Jazmyn Soo Problem - This is a commercial hip-hop duet combining the styles of both its dancers to showcase a fun, fresh and fast-paced collaboration of their creativity.
Grace McNeil Grace McNeil Waves - This piece is about being pulled in different directions, finding it difficult to decide where you want to go. The inspiration of this piece was based on how water is unpredictable in its movements and how we never know where it will take us. 
Rohan Abraham Reny Rohan Abraham Reny Tauba Tauba - Tonight's performance is for this dance showcase, the Legendary Returning Star, Rohan will be presenting you with this rocking Mollywood Fusion. I hope you all enjoy!
Ronnie Chen Sven Bungay, Casper Wellman, Hope Pecchini, Lindsay Thomson, Dayang Asrin, Jonathan Pham No Rules - We are performing a cover of TXT's song "No Rules" which is all about breaking expectations, living by our own rules, and just having fun. We are passionate about showing variety and bringing fun back to dance!
Denzel Mahusay Denzel Mahusay DENZEL'S CREW
Denzel Mahusay, Rehearsal Director Julia Quinn Year 7, 8, 9, and 10 dancers Minifusion - Welcome our winning Schools To Stage Minifusion Crew 2024, featuring students from years 7-10
Denzel Mahusay and Micah Santos, Rehearsal Director Julia Quinn   Hyperfusion - This crew worked so hard to create and perfect this piece. They are the 1st Place winners of the 2024 Schools To Stage Senior Hip Hop category!!
Niyati Narula, April Healy, Gracie McNeil, Caitlyn Jeffries Year 12 dancers Original - This collaborated hip hop piece, constructed and choreographed by our graduating dancers, showcases a blend of their creativity and youthful energy that they've showcased throughout their years dancing. It reflects acquired, and now strengthened, dance knowledge as well as a display of their impeccable teamwork and close-knit team.

We would also like to credit the photography for the showcase to Gray Walker, as well as media students Isabella Farina, Scarlett Schwinkowski,  Siena Piek, Jessica Smith, and Amar Abdelwahab