In mid-February, 26 Lick-Wilmerding students traded textbooks for dance shoes, traveling to Vancouver for the Northwest Regional High School Dance Festival. Led by LWHS Dance teacher Tabatha Robinson, the group joined over 200 young dancers from 20 regional schools. From February 13th to 16th, LWHS dancers stepped out of their daily routines and into a high-energy environment designed to push their artistic boundaries.

Ms. Robinson views the festival as a pivotal immersion experience for students. "I want them to feel what it’s like to be around and with dancers from all over," she shared. "The main thing is that they take classes from different teachers, meet students of various levels, and experience the dance world in a new way. The only way you can expand as an artist is to step out of your comfort zone."

The LWHS cohort fully embraced the experience, with many attending up to five classes a day. Students immersed themselves in a rigorous curriculum, learning from Broadway choreographers in styles ranging from character dance to contemporary. Ms. Robinson noted the group was exceptionally focused, diving into every opportunity rather than just "dabbling."

The festival also opens doors to the future through its college fair, attended by 16 colleges and universities this year. The results for LWHS were spectacular: four students received scholarship offers and invitations to intensive summer programs, with awards totaling over $150,000. These offers served as a powerful validation of our students' commitment to their craft and their growth as artists.

Simone H. ’26, who participated in the auditions, recalled the challenge of learning samba in just 45 minutes: "It was definitely daunting but was honestly so much fun. I was able to forget about the audition aspect and just learn something new, which made the whole process really enjoyable."

This spirit of exploration extended beyond the auditions and into the atmosphere of the festival itself. Simone noted how the festival environment impacted the entire group:

"Being in a purely creative space for four straight days really opens your mind to how dance can be such a beautiful art form and how it can tell stories. We watched performances that inspired us all to think deeper about dance and use it as inspiration for our own pieces. It really added a new perspective to how we look at the craft of dance."

Beyond the technical gains, the trip was a profound community-building experience. After long days of intensive training and evening performances, the students spent their nights together, sharing the excitement of the day and building friendships that went far beyond the dance studio.

"They really bonded while they were there," said Ms. Robinson. "Being at the festival allowed them to focus not so much on all their homework, but on being artists, and dancing and exploring. That's what I love to see."

Special thanks to our wonderful chaperones LWHS FacStaff Michelle de Leon and Jerrieza Enriquez and LWHS parents Jennifer Belenson and Marta Muñoz. We are grateful for their time and care in supporting our dancers!