Bellaire HS Celebrates Cultural Diversity Through Dance

Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the United States, and this diversity even extends to its schools and students. This vibrant diversity made itself present at the HISD International Dance Festival, organized by Sanja Korman, the Houston Independent School District’s Fine Arts Dance Coordinator. The festival celebrated a great variety of cultural dances and brought together schools and dance studios from across the Houston area for an evening of artistic expression and appreciation.

Bellaire High School’s eMotion Dance Company, directed by Paris Kent, hosted and managed the event. eMotion members played a crucial role in ensuring the festival ran smoothly, coordinating tech rehearsals, guiding performers to their dressing rooms and the auditorium, and managing backstage operations. Adding to the welcoming atmosphere, eMotion members greeted dancers and guests at Bellaire High School’s entrances and oversaw the check-in table, led by eMotion President Gaia Giuliani and Vice Presidents Sofia Giuliani and Francesca Camerlo. To support the event, the eMotion Booster Club also set up a concession stand selling snacks and drinks to visitors and performers.

eMotion Vice President Sofia Giuliani directing the Poe Elementary dance team to the auditorium.

The festival featured an impressive variety of performances, ranging from traditional Indian, Mexican, Chinese, and Middle Eastern dances to modern, hip-hop, and breakdance routines. Dancers from OAEC (Oriental Arts Education Center) performed an outstanding Chinese fish-inspired trio choreographed by Siqi Luo. 

The eMotion Dance Company not only orchestrated the event but also took the stage. The breakdance team performed a thrilling routine titled Off the Grid, choreographed by sophomore Dylan Gan. From eMotion’s modern company, senior Vivian Zhang and junior Megan Wang delivered a graceful modern lyrical duet. Furthermore senior Melanie Fung, representing both eMotion and her studio, Dance of Asia America, performed a traditional Chinese duet with Clarissa Chen.

Thanks to the dedication and hard work of eMotion Dance Company and its supporters, the HISD International Dance Festival was a success. The dance festival emphasized the power of dance as a bridge between cultures, uniting people from different cultures through the shared language of movement. It was not only a celebration of fine arts but also how art connects communities and cultures in meaningful ways.