|
|
We couldn't have made it without you!
Thank you for your hard work and dedication.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We want to share the great news and express our gratitude to all our hard working students and teachers for receiving the honors and accolades in the performances and competitions done in the past month. Your teachers played a very important role in getting you ready for the stage. They prepared your bodies by building your strength and agility in class; and they put their souls into their choreography to best showcase your many talents and abilities; . . . but in the end, it was all up to you to create that magical moment on stage that would wow your audience. And YOU did it . . . we are so proud of you!!!!
WSPA's pride is also in producing teachers and choreographers among our students. A special shout out to the following WSPA alumni who are now enjoying tremendous success as teachers, choreographers, and directors in WSPA.
Jason Rillera and Aggie Loyola - Both were trained and mentored by Patrick Rivera-Cruz in their adolescent years. They are currently the directors of The Company - the pride and glory of WSPA's Hip Hop program. Urban Paradise 2013 marked their debut as The Company directors, preparing The Co., Training Ground, and APT for the show.
Matthew Montenegro - The other male student other than Patrick Rivera-Cruz, who tried it all in WSPA - training in tap, jazz, ballet, musical theater, and finally finding his niche in hip hop. Who would have ever thought this 5 year old then would now be leading one of WSPA's leading seasonal performances. Urban Paradise 2013 marked Matt's debut as Production Manager/Director.
Michelle Abuyaghi - She was a party girl in Nutcracker when she was 8 years old and became a soloist in her early teens doing modern, jazz, classical and tap. Eventually hanging up the toe shoes for pairs of chucks and vans, she was taken under the wings of Patrick Rivera-Cruz to become one of The Co.'s leading dancers. NYCDA marked her debut as the Jazz and Modern Perf. Program teacher/choreographer with unprecedented wins for both her junior and senior entries.
Last but not the least, a big thank you to formidable teachers Viktor Kabaniaev, Tina Fargas-Newell, Lauren Main de Lucia and Mayo Sugano, for the world-class training that set every WSPA student to stand out among the rest.
So congratulations to all of you and now enjoy the many awards, reviews, videos, and recaps below.
|
|
|
YAGP awards Young Rebels First Place Ensemble - a Big Win over a wide age range of 9-19 years old
February 22, 23 & 24, San Mateo
Youth America Grand Prix, the world's largest student ballet and contemporary dance competition, is the toughest of all challenges for WSPA's ballet program. The technical prowess of all those who compete on the YAGP stage is attainable but what makes it the toughest to overcome is its elitist jury who highly considers the physical attributes of each participant that is requisite for professional accomplishments in classical ballet. In other words, you must have the perfect body in addition to the perfect technique. (I am exagerating for the purpose of clarifying the mission of YAGP, to place and connect students to professional ballet/contemporary dance schools and companies in the world) WSPA is proud of its students who are recognized and have tremendously done well on the YAGP stage. Young Rebels of Tina Fargas-Newell topped the entire ensemble competition, validating that hard work and passion lead to success. Click below for the outstanding results: Youth America Grand Prix SF Regional - WSPA Awards
|
 | Jasmine Cruz, First Place Classical & Contemporary; and Jonalyn Montero, 2nd Place Classical
|
 | Pre-Competitive Soloists
|
 | Happy faces after the awards
|
 | | WSPA students on stage for the awards. |
|
|
|
Urban Paradise 2013 Recap by Matthew Montenegro
March 16, Hayward
We returned again for another year at Chabot College Performing Arts Center in Hayward, CA. So much anticipation and excitement had built up for Urban Paradise 2013. There were new groups that we were very excited to grace our stage, as well as returning favorites that always put together great performances. What an amazing show it was! The energy of the crowd of more than 900 audience members and over 400 performers was electrifying. Each group provided the audience with something different, showing the range and versatility of Hip Hop Dancing. One can truly feel the heart of each dancer that was left on that stage. That night was all about community, bringing together people from all over California and even a group from Canada, to share what we love to do. We can't forget how well our groups performed: The Company, APT, and Training Ground all were well received by the audience members.
A huge thank you to the many people that have contributed their time and expertise in order to put together an amazing show. To Artists In Motion Bay Area and WSPA for supporting our craft and the overall production of the show. To Antoinette who prepared the food for all the performers. To our returning groups who have supported us throughout the years and even more recently: SGBM (San Diego), Press P.L.A.Y. (Sacramento), Boogie Monstarz (Sacremento), Stepboys (Sacramento), CADC (Irvine), Mischief Makers (LA), and GRV (LA). Thank you to the new groups that added energy and depth to UP2013: SIKAT (Winnipeg, MB), Culture Shock LA, Frenemies (San Diego), Entity (LA), and a special project by our former Director Pat Cruz "News For You". Throughout the years Urban Paradise has been gaining credibility and rapport as being one of the shows to see within our Hip Hop Dance Community. Its audience has expanded from our small community with people now coming from all over just to watch the production. Urban Paradise has grown to be an event anticipated in the Bay Area, and also recognized in the Hip Hop Dance Community. We are always looking to build and grow with each Urban Paradise, expect the next one to be better than the last. We are proud of the success and growth that Urban Paradise has taken, starting from a small theater in Serramonte del Rey to venues like the Palace of Fine Arts and now Chabot College Performing Arts Center. If you were unable to attend, videos can be found on YouTube under "TheCompanyTheCamp". We hope that you will attend next year, as this has truly been, year after year, a show NOT to miss!
|
  | | Urban Paradise 2013 - The Company (Opening) |
 | | Urban Paradise 2013 - Pat Cruz "News For You" |
 | | Urban Paradise 2013 - Training Ground |
 | | GRV | Urban Paradise 2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
"Thank you for making our 18th Anniversary Season a smashing success!:=)"
Enrico Labayen, Labayen Dance SF founder/director
 Hannah Hapin and Erik Debono in Broken String choreographed by Viktor Kabaniaev  WSPA's Modern Company in Organic choreographed by Malu Rivera-Peoples  | | Sunday: BROKEN STRINGS |
 | | Sunday: ORGANIC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
