Lexington High School’s physical education department gives students the freedom to choose which classes to take. One of the less traditional choices is Musical Theater/Jazz Dance, taught by new P.E. teacher Tia DeVincenzo.
“I’ve been here three semesters, and I’m going into my fourth semester next year. Ms. Carrie actually ran [the class] for years. She was a huge component, but I make it my own,” said DeVincenzo.
Over the course of three classes, DeVincenzo teaches a ‘combo’ (combination) to her students. These can range from a classical musical theater performance piece to a contemporary jazz piece choreographed by DeVincenzo herself.
Guided by DeVincenzo, the class allows for students to express their own creativity.
“I love asking students to give me recommendations for music, since it’s not strictly musical theater anymore. If the students are interested in it, we start doing choreography for [them]. And so students get to express themselves in a way that may not be otherwise accessible,” DeVincenzo said.
DeVincenzo’s emphasis on creativity and self-expression fosters an environment where students feel encouraged to take ownership of their performances. Students can express their artistic abilities through each dance, adding to its uniqueness.
“I really enjoy learning new dances because I don’t take a dance class outside of school, so I think it’s really fun that we have the opportunity to do this in school, and it’s so different from other P.E. classes I’ve taken,” Natalie Monteiro, a freshman taking the Musical Theater/Jazz Dance class, said.
For some, the dance class is also the perfect opportunity to take a necessary break from academics and partake in an enjoyable physical activity.
“Some of the students never got the opportunity to take any dance class at all. So they really like coming in and just not being judged for how they dance. Again, they’re not technical; they’ve never taken a dance class, but it’s just a way to kind of let go of the stress of the day,” DeVincenzo said.
Although some students may be hesitant to sign up for the nontraditional class, Monteiro encouraged them to give the class a chance.
“If you are considering it, then you should 100% take it. It was a little nerve-racking at first because I wasn’t sure how it would be, but once you get to know everyone in the class, it’s so much fun … Even if you are not that skilled a dancer, I would recommend it.” Monteiro said.
