As the line cascaded outside the River of Grass (ROG) doors and around the corner, friends and family gathered to enjoy a night of performances from Pines Charter’s clubs and fine arts department. Lighthearted Christmas songs performed by PPCHS’ jazz band started the evening off, and the seats in the auditorium were slowly filling up. December 12th marked an anticipated day for all, as it was the annual and beloved Winter Fantasy Showcase.
The opening to the show was like no other, Christmas pajamas and a choreographed dance to “Sparkle Jolly Twinkle Jingly” from Elf The Broadway Musical. The Theatre Two class and the Drama club were included in this number, amplifying the audience for the performances ahead. “It is a really fun [song], it is full of Christmas spirit, and it’s [just] a great opening to a show,” theatre teacher, Ms. Sanford exclaims. Along with dancing, many of the students throughout the scene were able to be in the spotlight, singing their solos. “It came together nicely and I [am glad] I was able to perform with friends and make new friends in the process,” sophomore Madison Maylor states.
Quickly after the musical number, the dance classes hit the stage. This year’s routines were performed by all the classes starting with the first and fifth periods. They used Santa mini dresses, festive hats, socks, and pajamas to enhance their performances. The songs used were both remixes of “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” as well as Mean Girls and Pitch Perfect for two other separate performances. Although there was a mix of spinning moves and hip hop, the first-period sequence decided to include a surprise at the end, as Santa came out and threw small stuffed animals into the audience.
Shifting gears, the Academic Village Middle School’s (AVM) advanced drama class’s version of “It’s A Hard Knock Life” instantly became a fan favorite. The scene started with jumping splits and ariels which ultimately stunned the crowd. Ms. Sanford expresses, “They [were] incredible and you could feel the energy in the room.” In a sequenced manner, all the students sang along while doing tricks with their buckets, rags, and broomsticks. During the performance, each student showed their dedication, which essentially is what “paves the path for their future involvement in theater,” senior and theatre president Sofia Romero explains.
Making a small appearance, Charter’s Fashion Club decided to put its spin on the song “Santa Baby.” The club members were walking out dressed in striped socks and red shawls representing Santa and his elves. Once everyone struck a pose, all the members walked around the ROG passing out candy canes as their little gifts. Following them was the K-Pop United club which did a cozy yet upbeat choreography to the song “Ditto.” Almost to the half point of the show, a solo was performed by sophomore Luke O’Connor. From O’Connors empowering voice and the song choice, “Stars” from Les Miserables, the young actor got a big round of applause from the crowd.
Nearing the end of the show, were the performances of Charter’s beloved teams such as Latin Dance. Doing a classic “Feliz Navidad” remix, the captains used a mix of Latin dances such as salsa, bachata, and merengue. The team wore their light blue shirts and signature black bottoms while all feeling the music and dancing their hearts out. Senior captain Paola Bastidas can agree, “that it’s so important to have that positive energy when performing because it reflects how good the performance looks overall.”
The advanced drama then gave the audience an eye-opening look at a student-choreographed piece in which a selected few students danced to “Turn Back O Man” from “Godspell”. This performance was capable of making it to the first round of the direct competition called Thespians. Not only did it win a few awards, but also the performance itself had a whole lot of sassiness within each move.
Another spotlight was given to sophomores Madison Toledo and David Gonzalez as they did a duet to “Anything You Can Do.” Having two different roles in the song, the two singers made the audience laugh a lot and the efforts they made to make each lyric as accurate as possible were most definitely displayed. Bringing out the fun, Zumba was able to participate in Winter Fantasy for the first time. The group incorporated their Christmas remix with a cheerful and fast dance that got the crowd cheering for the dancers. Likewise, the PPCHS Color Guard brought pops of red and green to the stage with their synchronized flag choreography and some slight dance moves.
The dance team further kept the high energy going with a “Nonsense, Rudolf, and Santa Tell Me” remix. Team member and junior, Kyra Theodore says “[each performance] had their differences which made them each unique in their ways. [With that, it also kind of] gave them their vibe which was cool to see.” After some struggle and many hours of practice later, the Dance team was able to come together and execute intense moves that were iconic to the team. The step team soon enough took the stage and combined their spirited moves with a little bit of music in the background. Decked out in bejeweled black leotards, the team performed a sweet presentation that truly showed what the team is all about.
Ending the night with an original scene from senior Paola Reverol, “Action! Holiday Edition (Archives),” the ROG was filled with bursts of enjoyment from not just the intentional signs and mistakes made in the performance but also the show altogether. Winter Fantasy must continue its strong legacy and after all Ms. Sanford confirms “Every time I see live theatre I can see how much it impacts the world and how much it needs to be continued.”
