From a list of 85 nominees, the following 15 students have been named as semifinalists for the 2022 Artist of the Year in dance. The students were chosen by a panel of teachers based on written statements, performance videos and artistic résumés.
Included are links to their work, the specialty in which they were nominated, and quotes about how they relate to their craft.
Dancers were nominated in the specialties of commercial dance, concert dance, street dance, and world/cultural dance. (This year, no nominees from street dance were selected as semifinalists.)
During the final round of adjudication, students are interviewed by a panel of distinguished artistic professionals and faculty members from Southern California universities. Interviews include a live presentation by the students followed by a question-and answer-session.
One finalist in each specialty will be named as well as an overall Artist of the Year in each of the seven disciplines – theater, dance, instrumental music, vocal music, film, handcrafted visual arts and computer-assisted visual arts.
The Artists of the Year will be announced on May 1.
This program is generously sponsored by the Chapman University College of Performing Arts. Additional support is provided by the Laguna College of Art + Design and the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University.
If you would like to become a sponsor for the Artist of the Year program, contact Heide Janssen at ocartistoftheyear@gmail.com.
David Burn, senior, Sunny Hills High School
Specialty: Commercial dance
“As a male dancer, I’ve faced many prejudicial opinions of my character without a word ever spoken. Dance has given me the ability to change the preconceived opinions of not only my capabilities as a person and performer, but hopefully male dancers in general. I believe artists have the potential to move people and alter perceptions. Artists can move a mass audience with one piece, whether that be through song, poetry, illustrations, or in my chosen field dance.”
Michaela Capulong, senior, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts
Specialty: Concert dance
“Even at a young age, I deeply respected the way in which dance bridged the gap between artistry and athleticism, making dance one of the most physically and mentally demanded pursuits there is. As someone who has spent long days and nights rigorously training in the studio, I have dedicated over a decade of my life to the art form, studying all genres of dance and multiple methods of each respective style. As long as I can remember, dance has been the most integral pillar of my identity, a component I am not complete without.”
Emmy Cheung, senior, Orange County School of the Arts
Specialty: Concert dance
“Dance helps me ground myself. My dancing is me in my truest form, and it is a constant reminder that I am who I uniquely am. It is my every emotion. It is connections and relationships. Dance is honest. To think that I can both enjoy and share dance as a career is what drives my passion to follow the pathway of dance.”
Bella Rose Dunn, senior, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts
Specialty: Concert dance
“Dance allowed me to pursue expression and beauty through movement. It sounds cliché, but true. Soon, it was time for my first pair of pointe shoes. A true turning point in my life! Ballet became my new love. Performing my first pointe solo changed my focus. I wanted to dedicate my talents completely to ballet. Today, I can honestly say that it was a perfect decision for me”
Devin Glass, junior, Fullerton Union High School
Specialty: Commercial dance
“I consider myself an artist because I have found my passion, and have been able to share my creativity with the world. Being an artist is breaking out of societal norms and finding a way to express ourselves. Artists speak the truth, they find issues and stories happening in the world and somehow through their gifts, they bring those ideas to life. I find rhythms and beats in everything I see and hear, and I am always creating dance pieces that have meaning and a story to them.”
Mia Amaris Lopez, junior, Orange County School of the Arts
Specialty: World/cultural dance
“Looking ahead as an artist I want to be able to give back to my community. Not just within us folk dancers but Mexican people as a whole. I want to be able to get a degree in dance and use it to teach and spread my art form throughout the world. Folklorico is a dance form that is up and coming in the entertainment industry and I want to to be a part of it.”
Alisa Nguyen, junior, Orange County School of the Arts
Specialty: Concert dance
“Dance has influenced non-dance parts of my life by allowing me to find a love for working with children. I have always loved taking care of the younger ones around me when I was growing up due to my natural maternal instincts. Through dance, I am given opportunities to work with kids from underprivileged communities which has been extremely eye opening. Now that I have been doing this for multiple years and have gotten older, I am now taking steps into teaching the community around me.”
Mindy T. Pham, senior, Garden Grove High School
Specialty: World/cultural dance
“Being an artist, in my perspective, is dumping joy, pain, hope, sorrow, and all the built-up emotions into a bag, shaking it up, and emptying the contents to create your own original masterpiece. This masterpiece may be imperfect, incomplete, and can come with countless flaws, but the most significant aspect of the artwork is that it is unique and it expresses who we are as individuals.”
Joshua Qin, junior, Orange County School of the Arts
Specialty: World/cultural dance
“Dance inspires other creative improvisations through piano and vocals, as I ponder theme, tempo, rhythm, and styling. When I play percussion with fellow musicians at PSYO, I use body language acquired through dance to better express my playing and create a moving story. Singing with peers from across the country in honors choruses, I blend the emotions of the beautiful dances I picture in my mind with our harmonious voices.”
Kelley Lauren Rood, senior, Mater Dei High School
Specialty: Commercial dance
“At first, I found it difficult to define what it means to be an artist, for everyone is unique in their portrayal and holds different experiences. Yet, it is this exact welcoming concept of broadness that characterizes artistry. The most beautiful element of art is the stylistic and personal touch that each artist contributes to the form. Fittingly, I believe that being an artist means that one can stay true to themself while exploring the world of possibilities at the same time.”
Danielle Silver, senior, Orange County School of the Arts
Specialty: Commercial dance
“Along with implementing concert dance into my training, I’m also deeply passionate and involved with the history of dance and its origins. I find the etiology of dance fascinating, as diving into the past of my art form helps me expand my horizons and knowledge of dance by learning from diverse influences of art from around the world and exploring new areas of study in my dancing. I love learning about connections of various influences through dance, like African and European roots to gain knowledge about the creation of the artform I love so much.”
Danielle Thayer-Pham, senior, Woodbridge High School
Specialty: Commercial dance
“As artists, we have the ability to alter our art that can produce an entirely different piece. I am fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to be able to be a dancer as well as a choreographer. As a dancer, I connect with the music and allow myself to convey the message of the choreographer. When I choreograph, I paint my picture with my choreography and formations while utilizing the dancers technique to bring my vision to life.”
Hana Uehara, junior, Orange County School of the Arts
Specialty: World/cultural dance
“Ballroom has brought so much into my life. It has shared with me the gifts of friendship, family, and has filled my life with indescribable love. However, not only is it unknown to the public, but it is often preconceived through lenses that do not allow people to see the reality of ballroom dancing. With my club (Ballroom for All), I wanted to change this pattern by spreading my passion to allow children to try various dance forms.”
Reagan Vallejo, senior, Orange County School of the Arts
Specialty: Commercial dance
“I’ve learned that there will always be obstacles that set you back, force you in a new direction, or separate you from those you love. However, the inventive and determined mind that I’ve developed by tuning into my artistic side has shown me time and time again the benefit of taking a risk, forging my own path, and knowing that I’m a part of a community that always supports each other. Being an artist is essential to who I am, and I wouldn’t be myself without everything this lifestyle has taught me.”
Amelia Yum, junior, Northwood High School
Specialty: Commercial dance
“Dance has really evolved to something more personal to me as I’ve grown throughout high school. … I feel like I’ve been able to find my element and also challenge myself and push myself to where it’s uncomfortable. I realized that I had to start dancing for myself in order to perform for others. Artists play to their strengths but explore in their weaknesses. To me, dance is my story and who I am. It is a journey that encompasses the absolute lowest and highest points of my life and everything in between.”
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