By: Julie DeFrancia

On May 8 and 9, the dance program at Granada Hills Charter (GHC) brought fairytales to life during its annual spring dance show at Plaza Del Sol at California State University, Northridge (CSUN).
This year’s production, titled “Once Upon a Beat,” combined classic fairytale themes with modern music and a variety of dance styles. The show highlighted all five dance classes as well as the varsity and junior varsity dance teams and the student-led group Revolutionary Steps.


Each performance incorporated fairytales into the dances through styles including hip-hop, contemporary, jazz, musical theater, and world dance. From “Sleeping Beauty” to “The Ugly Duckling” to darker fantasy-inspired performances featuring vampires, the show explored the fairy tale world with songs audiences recognized.


Throughout the year, students spent many hours rehearsing, choreographing, and preparing for the show.


“It’s definitely very fun because I have a lot of friends that dance with me,” sophomore Ani Grigorian said. “In the beginner class, I know that everyone puts a lot of effort into collaborating to make the show great. We run the dances over and over again, get notes, and improve every time.”


The show also highlighted the close-knit community that forms in the dance program. Dance has brought so many new and experienced students together to create art out of their bonds.


This year’s show came with additional challenges. Dance teacher Dana Fukagawa left on maternity leave earlier in the semester. Though she prepared for her absence, instructional assistants Amy Egbert and Giselle Gutierrez stepped into larger roles than usual.


“Honestly, it was a lot easier with Ms. Fugi’s help and guidance,” Gutierrez said. “This included getting the costumes together, compiling the music, and navigating which fairy tales can go with the choreography. However, it was helpful that a lot of the kids are independent and super dedicated, so in the end, it all turned out great.”


For seniors in the program, the performance marked their final dance show at GHC. Whether they had participated in dance for one year or all four years of high school, the show was a celebration of the work and connections they built throughout their time in the program.


With its elaborate lighting and imaginative storytelling, “Once Upon a Beat” transformed the stage into a world of fantasy and music. As the school year comes to an end, the success of this year’s show leaves audiences looking forward to next year’s enchanting show.