On Feb. 22, YPAS held one of its annual performances of the 2026 Dance Concert. The concert had a total of nine pieces, ranging from Hawaiian dance to pieces inspired by the natural world. For seniors in the dance major, this was their final performance of the year.
The first performance was “Sleeping Beauty (Excerpts From Act III),” introducing the audience to classical ballet. The piece asked the performers to display excellent technique and narrative storytelling. The performance showcased the pinnacle of technical skill and precision, combined with rich concentration to facilitate the “wedding” scene of the performance.
Next, “Hilo Hanakahi” was performed. This piece is a traditional Hawaiian dance and was facilitated at YPAS by Kaila Chung. YPAS students were asked to learn Hawaiian dances, skirt and hula sash preparation techniques and chants.
The performance contained a total of four parts. First, Mele Pā’ū, a traditional Hawaiian chant that is used to fold and dress a hula skirt. A hula skirt must be prepared before an individual can dance hula. Next came Mele Kīhei, another chant but instead focused on presenting and dressing in a hula sash. After both the skirts and sashes had been prepared, the actual dance could begin.
The first dance during Hilo Hanakahi was “Ho’opuka E Ka Lā Ma Ka Hikina,” which is a dance to honor the goddess of Hula, Hi’iakaikapoliopele. This performance was a formal hula accompanied by three percussionists. Finally, the piece concluded through “Hilo Hanakahi.” This piece, written in the “kahiko” style, honors hula lineage and the teachers who came before. The performance maintained a constant flow, keeping the audience’s eyes’ moving from one dancer to the next.
The third performance was “ENTWINED.” The piece follows a lonesome individual who learns to have connections with others and eventually finds connection with a shared community. This ballet was structured through duets, trios, corps work and full ensemble sections. The music controls the choreography to move from whimsical and airy to grounded and solid.
“Through restaging this piece, I aim to give the students a sense of power and elegance as they perform,” said Clare Kresse, from the dance company Lou.Co.Lab and the restager of the piece.
After “ENTWINED” came “Weight of Wait,” a piece centered on helping others while maintaining boundaries, for Cadence Sanders (10, YPAS), this piece struck a chord.
“I was able to connect to the choreography and message, as I have been on both sides of the story in my own life, weight bearer and bystander and supporter,” Sanders said.
Visually, the performance steered the audience towards a central character who bears literal large baggage. This character started downstage right and traveled to upstage left, representing a period of time where an individual is dealing with baggage. Throughout this piece, others would come up to the lone person, suggesting support or resolutions to the person’s problems with their movements. Overall, “Weight of Wait” showcased a story that the audience could relate to.
The fifth piece performed during the dance concert was “Dust.” This unique piece had Finnegan Broyles (11, YPAS) and Esme Ertz (10, YPAS) as musical accompaniment playing the song “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas. The dancers performed the original choreography from “Wayward Son,” a musical about the band Kansas.
The final piece, “Choosing Joy!,” was a jazz performance centering around Michael Bublé’s “Feeling Good.” Kimberly Herndon Mansilla (YPAS) choreographed the piece, and it was an upbeat and fast-paced piece with dancers making energetic and synchronized motions throughout.
Overall, YPAS’ 2026 Dance Concert was a booming success and showcased the dance students’ hard work and talent throughout the show. From classical ballet to crowd pleasers, the concert filled the audience with awe.
“I was so impressed with the skill of the dancers, the variety of dance, and the visual experience of the set and costumes. Completely enjoyed the program,” audience members Tammy Chambers said.
