High Life A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : Dance Program Succeeds in Battle to Survive

“Orchesis” translated from Greek means “dance.”

It is also the name of the dance program at Corona del Mar High School.

And, this year, the Orchesis Dance Co., which survives during the fall semester, was almost as dead as the Greek language in the spring.

Sharon Trager, a physical education teacher at the high school, decided last fall that, because of the extensive time commitment, she would not continue as the dance program adviser, a position she had held for the past five years.

Deborah Benson, who had served under Trager as Orchesis’ dance teacher for three years, was hired in September to take over. However, because of a lack of funds, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District informed the school that Orchesis would have to be limited to one semester each year.

Despite the fact that their dancing would soon end, Benson and the 25 girls in Orchesis continued working on their annual dance production.

Performed recently in the Newport Harbor High School auditorium, “Steps in Time” marked Benson’s first effort as a dance director. Not only did she and her girls pick the show’s theme and dances, they also raised all the money for the production through fund-raisers and donations.

For two weeks before the production, the girls, who choreographed 19 of the show’s 21 routines, rehearsed nearly every night.

“Dancing is as difficult as any other sport,” Benson said. “The girls have worked really hard.”

“Steps in Time” featured music and dance reflective of various eras, with such numbers as “1492: Columbus Discovers America,” “1892: Salem’s Gathering of Witches” and “2095: The Future.”

But the future of Orchesis was at hand. Despite Benson’s departure, the girls wanted to continue dancing into the spring semester, as they had done the previous year. Some of their parents got together and managed to persuade Cindy Mansfield, owner of the Dance Center in Newport Beach, to volunteer her time as adviser.

“Many of the Orchesis dancers are advanced dancers and this gives me the opportunity to work with advanced dancers on a daily basis, rather than once a week,” said Mansfield.

Mansfield said she plans to have Orchesis members attend workshops and participate in such activities as the Professional Dance Teacher Assn.’s competition in March. The troupe will also perform in June at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach.

With the survival of Orchesis--Mansfield said she would like to continue her role next fall--comes not only the opportunity for students to perform and exhibit their abilities, but also, for some, the spark to pursue an interest in dance.

Rachel Witaker, a Corona del Mar senior and three-year member of Orchesis, said she plans to become a professional dancer after graduation.

“Now is a prime time for me to dance,” said Witaker, whose first love is choreography. She wants most to make music videos.

Senior Teryn Mayle, a four-year member and president of Orchesis, said she plans to continue dancing in college.

“Orchesis has given me a way to express myself,” she said. “I’ve gotten some great relationships and (after graduation) I will miss my friends and the performances.”

And four-year member Lily Lee, who originally started dance as a supplement to gymnastics, said she will minor in dance in college and plans to “dance for the rest of my life.”