Video Transcript
Hello Chargers, my name is Emmy Benitez, and welcome back to the Pin Oak Press. I hope you are having a great day. Today’s top story is the Winter Showcase, organized by your very own Pin Oak dance teachers, Miss Cordero and Mr. Leal. This performance was on Tuesday, December 10th. Of the 21 dancers, Mr. Leal’s students had eight performances, and Miss Cordero’s students had 13 performances.
Company, crew, and cheer had multiple 6:30 a.m. practices leading up to this performance, and crew had one after-school practice each week for weeks leading up to the showcase. On top of that, there were also company, cheer, and crew dance periods. We had the opportunity to interview POMS dance and Company cheer director, Miss Cordero.
Miss Cordero: Hi, I’m Miss Cordero. I am the dance director here at Pin Oak Middle School, as well as Company director and cheer coach.
Interviewer: What was your favorite part of directing the showcase?
Miss Cordero: My favorite part of directing the showcase is seeing all of my students put all of their hard work into fruition and seeing it on the dance floor. Watching all of them come to life is so rewarding.
Interviewer: What was the main difficulty in hosting the Winter Showcase?
Miss Cordero: My main difficulty was not being able to prep the way I like to. I usually like to have my dancers practice a few days prior to the show. Logistical things like ticket tables, sound, seating, and chairs all had to be handled the day of the performance—30 minutes prior to the show—rather than two days before, which is what I prefer.
Interviewer: What is something your dancers did really well, and what is something they need to improve on?
Miss Cordero: I thought my dancers did really well performing, especially since it was the first time for most of them. Something they all need to improve on is becoming more in tune with themselves and the choreography. That will help them perform even better.
Interviewer: If you had to perform one dance in the entire showcase, which one would it be?
Miss Cordero: That would be “Ring Around the Rosie” from Company because of the storytelling and the creepy character. I think it’s just very fun to perform.
Interviewer: What goes through your mind when you’re choreographing a dance?
Miss Cordero: A lot goes through my mind. From a choreographer’s standpoint, I think about what the audience will see and how to make my dancers become artists on the floor. It’s about balancing what the dancer feels internally and how that resonates outwardly to the audience.
Interviewer: What influences your costuming, and why do you pick the costumes you choose?
Miss Cordero: First is the dance genre, because that typically helps. Once you see the costume, you already know what style the dancers are going to perform. I also choose costumes that make my dancers feel comfortable and help them shine their best.
Interviewer: Which dance stood out the most to you, and which was the most meaningful?
Miss Cordero: I loved Mr. Lea’s “Awa.” His whole class really had fun, and as an audience member, it’s always a pleasure to watch dancers having fun.
We also had the opportunity to talk to POMS hip-hop and crew director, Mr. Lea.
Mr. Leal: Good afternoon! I’m Mr. Lea. I am the crew director and the hip-hop dance teacher here at Pin Oak Middle School.
Interviewer: What is your favorite part of directing?
Mr. Leal: Seeing the finished piece. We work all semester to put it together, and actually seeing it performed in front of a crowd is the most enjoyable part.
Interviewer: What did your dancers do well, and what do they need to improve on?
Mr. Leal: They showed up and put forth their best effort. For improvement, I think they could work on showmanship and projecting more energy towards the audience. Many did that well, but there’s always room for more.
Interviewer: What goes through your mind when you’re choreographing?
Mr. Leal: I think about how it’s going to look in front of an audience—the song, costumes, and the end result. I always begin with the end in mind.
Interviewer: What influences your choreography?
Mr. Leal: My biggest influences are Houston, Texas—my city and my culture—and my upbringing. I learned to dance in the ’90s, so that, along with my Mexican-American heritage, shapes my perspective and thinking.
Interviewer: Which dances stood out the most to you?
Mr. Leal: All of them were great, but I think “Awa” stood out, as well as JT’s solo. “Showtime” with the crew was also very well done—it’s something we’ve performed before and are continuing to improve. We recently got adjudication feedback from other dancers, and they received all A’s, which was very exciting and something I’m proud of.
Interviewer: Thank you so much, Mr. Lea.
Mr. Leal: Thank you!
Thank you for tuning into this video featuring the Winter Showcase. This is Emmy from Pin Oak Press wishing you a wonderful winter break. Goodbye until next time!
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