Ms. Sugino’s High School Dance Class

By Ena Sugawara; Pictures by Ena Sugawara

The Performing Arts at HIS

Why we value it…

At H.I.S, dance is an important part of the performing arts. Dance classes help students express themselves creatively while staying active and healthy. We also build confidence and teamwork as students work together on performances. Through dance, students learn to share stories and emotions, helping them appreciate different cultures and perspectives. 
 

Ms. Sugino’s Dance Class

In Ms. Sugino’s dance class, the genre is Jazz. We start with stretching and muscle training to build our balance, strength, and flexibility. Ms. Sugino teaches a lot of techniques that we use in jazz, we practice chainé, passé, chasse, and more. Ms. Sugino also teaches detailed movements and how to show them to an audience. It's not just about learning how to dance, it also gives you a variety of collaborative tasks, so you can also learn about teamwork and how to coordinate your body, matching it to the rhythm of the music.

Ms.Sugino’s teaching in HIS 

Ms. Sugino teaches EY music class, Elementary music class, Secondary choir & High school dance. She was a student in HIS from 2000 to 2010. Ms. Sugino started teaching at HIS in 2015, she left once in 2020 and came back again in 2023. To better understand the goals and expectations in our school's dance program, I decided to interview Ms. Sugino. This interview will help us understand what the teacher sees in dance class and the skills and qualities she encourages students to develop.

Why did you want to become a dance teacher?

“I have wanted to become a music teacher since I was a junior at HIS. As a student, I've always experienced music and dance together and I never thought the two were separate. Although dance is more commonly thought of as a part of Physical Education, I wanted to make sure that all the music classes I taught were also about the body and movement and feeling music physically. I never thought I would get the opportunity to teach a dance-only class and it has been a really wonderful experience for me as a teacher but also as a musician as well.”

What do you desire from a student? 

 “Dancing on stage and dancing in general takes a lot of courage. Expressing oneself with one's body is challenging, especially as people get older (younger children tend to have no problem with this!), because individuals are taught to think and feel less with their bodies and more with their brains. The teacher hopes that students are brave, curious, and excited about returning to the "roots" of being not just a body with a brain, but a brain with a body with a lot to say.” 

 What is the goal of High School dance class? 

“Students having an absolute blast during performances!”   

Many thanks to Ms. Sugino for providing information about her background and sharing her passion for dancing. As a student of hers, I can elaborate on her goal:

To have an absolute blast during dance performances, it is important to express yourself and communicate with the audience. The adrenaline and energy of the moment will also fuel your excitement and creativity during the performance!

Why Dance at HIS?

H.I.S is a school that believes in experiential learning and student-centered experiences. We work hard to create an environment where students can get involved in their education. This allows them to explore their interests and build important skills.We are proud of our friendly community that celebrates diversity and promotes teamwork among students, teachers, and families. Together, we create a lively learning environment where everyone can succeed and grow.

To learn more about our academics, including our focus on experiential learning, check out our academic page.