Ballroom Students End the Year with a Performance for Herrera Staff

Herrera Ballroom Dancers volunteered their time after school to perform at the Goodbye Party for Ms.Amavisca, a teacher who has been working with us for several years and is retiring.  The students enjoyed performing for you.  Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to Herrera and the Phoenix Elementary School District!

MSA and ASA Trip

A selected group of students chosen by the fine arts team were taken on a field trip to Performing and Visual art high schools  around the valley, including MSA (Metro Arts Institute) and ASA (Arizona School of Arts).  These students were chosen due to their artistic talents and hard work.  We believe these students would thrive in a school that not only cares very much about academics, but also the artists within students.

Ballet

3rd and 4th grade classes have been learning an introduction to ballet.   Students have learned the 5 differnt positions, demi-pliets, grand pliets, chaines, glissades, and changement de pieds.  Here is a picture of the students beginning their ballet warm ups with leg stretches on the bar and practicing 5th position. 

Competition Team

Many students in the 7th and 8th grade have audition and a handful made it to the Herrera's Shooting Star Competition Dance Team! 

Above is a picture of the many stars of the team and the teachers leading the team.  Students will be performing for the school, the City of Phoenix at El Dia de los Ninos, and the Starbound Competition.  Students are also going to be soon interviewed by the district newspaper for being the first dance team at Herrera to ever go into competition!  Congratulations team members!

Ballroom Dance

Students are learning that dance can also be a social experience.  Here the students are learning basic ballroom steps, such as underarm turn and greeting their partners with a curtsey or bow.

Super Star Dancers Awards

Emily Cortez and Jose Ledezma

Were recognized by Ms. Sun

for excellence in dance.

 

“Emily is a Super Star student who is always respectful, does her best, and smiles during dance.  What makes her stand out among other students is that she is a fearless performer, willing to be a leader with enthusiasm, even to lead the whole 3^rd and 4^th grade class to do a step dance piece.  She is never afraid to try new moves and always has a great attitude!  Emily is a wonderful dance student!”- Ms. Sun

“Jose is a Super Star student who is always respectful, does his best, and always smiles during dance.  Although he is a quiet student in class, he is never afraid to try new moves and always has a great attitude!  I love having Jose as one of my dance students and he greatly deserves this award!”- Ms. Sun

Ballet Arizona

3rd and 4th grade students got the opportunity to see some of the Acts from Cinderella at Symphony Hall in downtown phoenix performed by the professional group, Ballet Arizona.  Students got to learn inside information about the career of a ballet dancer and got to interview the ballet dancers during the field trip.  Herrera students have also been learning about ballet dancing in class.  Below is a picture of students learning 1st-5th ballet positions.