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‘Past & Present’ dance concert is returning

By TPR Staff

Members of the Arroyo Grande Dance Company will present “Past & Present,” the fifth annual benefit dance performance, at 7 p.m. Friday, March 27, in the Dr. Arthur James Gymnasium on campus.

Proceeds from the show will benefit the Amber Carter Memorial Scholarship, which awards money to a graduating dance student to help further their education in dance, said teacher Debby Sims-Sagisi, who teaches the dance performance class.

“Our dance group consists of 35 students, and 10 of them are boys, which is a big deal because usually boys won’t dance,” Sims-Sagisi said.

But she noted three boys who are former AGHS Dance Company students have gone on to dance in motion pictures, including “You’ve Been Served,” “Step Up 2” and “Stomp the Yard,” and one of them is now working on “Step Up 3D.”

“These guys have danced with people like Rhiannon and Mariah Carey,” she added.

Students will perform large-group and small-group dance numbers in a variety of styles, with all of the performances choreographed by students.

Former students have returned to help with the choreography, and some of them will also perform as guest dancers, Sims-Sagisi said.

Sims-Sagisi said with the annual Dance Kaleidoscope show canceled this year, “Past & Present” will be the only chance parents and friends will have to see an AGHS student dance performance this year.

Following the March 27 dance concert, the troupe will perform the show at Santa Maria High School in April and Righetti High School and Orcutt Junior High School in May.

Tickets at $5 for students and $7 for adults can be purchased in advance in Room 955, the dance room, on campus and will be available at the door.