By: Maansi Maskai
The MHS Thespian Society hosted the 2019 Variety Show on Thursday, Jan 24 and Friday, Jan. 25 in the MHS theater. Students displayed their prowess in an array of diverse acts which included the presentation of various cultural dance forms, original songs, and slam poetry.
Dancers Ryan Ho and Lyn Loi of the dance group “LcRc” opened the show on a elegant note with the first dance performance of the night. They performed a captivating fan dance to the tunes of “Breathin” by Ariana Grande, “Focus” by Allie X, and “Thank You So Much” by Yubin. The effortless switch that the dancers made between the smooth and peppy numbers was truly remarkable to see.
Living up to the high expectations set by “LcRc,” the dance group “Ayana” presented a flawless routine to “Won’t Say I’m in Love” by Hercules and the “ Barbie as Rapunzel” instrumental soundtrack, while “LJLR” enhanced the mood with their upbeat, high-energy performance.
However, the most noteworthy dance act of the night was presented by the dance group “BabiCrackr.” Grooving to melodies by artists such as Cardi B, Drake, Zac Efron, Zendaya, and others, the dancers skillfully incorporated energetic expressions with their crisp movements truly making it a treat for the audience.
The display of talent was not solely limited to dance. It also included an assortment of vocal and instrumental performances. Seniors Alexis Ranger Dunbar and Amyiah Jamison dazzled the audience with their haunting rendition of “Stay” by Rihanna, followed by Senior CJ Choates who sang the soothing melody “Blessed” by Daniel Caesar while playing the grand piano.
Choosing to diverge from the crowd, Sophomore Nyla Choates and Senior Diana Huynh presented original poems on relevant issues in society today such as police brutality and the usage of the “N-word.” Their innovative thoughts certainly gave the audience much to consider and reflect upon.
Although the talented dancers, musicians, singers, and poets of MHS dazzled on stage, it is impossible to ignore the skillful yet smooth emcee by the members of the Thespian Society. Their perfect comic timing added the right amount of jest in the middle of acts to make the transition more enjoyable for the audience. Overall, the Variety Show was truly a memorable start to the new year for MHS performing arts.
