From a list of 101 nominees, the following 16 students have been named as semifinalists for the 2024 Artist of the Year in dance. The students were chosen by a panel of teachers based on written statements, performance videos and artistic résumés.
In submitting their work, students identified their strongest specialty within the discipline and the judges use that specialty to help focus their evaluations.
See more Artist of the Year semifinalists
Film and TV
Theater
Instrumental music
Vocal music
Fine arts
Media arts
Students are also placed into divisions based on the number of years they have been studying dance. Students with a combination of five years of dance training in middle school, high school and private training are placed into Division 1. Students with less than five years of combined training are placed into Division 2. A minimum of two Division 2 students are guaranteed to be invited to be semifinalists.
During the final round of adjudication, students are interviewed by a panel of distinguished artistic professionals and faculty members from Southern California universities. Interviews include a live presentation by the students followed by a question-and answer-session.
Up to five top students may be chosen in each discipline — four finalists plus the Artist of the Year.
The finalists and Artists of the Year will be announced next Sunday, April 28.
On Wednesday, May 8, an awards ceremony will be held at Memorial Hall on the campus of Chapman University which is free and open to the public. This event will include performances and presentations by the top students.
This program is generously sponsored by the Chapman University College of Performing Arts. Additional support is provided by Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and the UC Irvine Claire Trevor School of the Arts.
If you would like to become a sponsor for the Artist of the Year program, contact Heide Janssen at ocartistoftheyear@aoy.scng.com.
Sofia Aniceto
Senior, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts
Division 1
Strongest Specialty: Contemporary ballet
“Being in the performing arts world has influenced many aspects of my life. One being how I approach challenges and fully commit myself to anything I do. Because of the training that I do on a day-to-day basis, I do online schooling to accommodate my schedule. It was difficult at first but the years of training and dance and theater made me adaptable.”
Maria Jose Arizmendi Alday
Senior, Garden Grove High School
Division 2
Strongest Specialty: Jazz
“Oftentimes when the word ‘artist’ is mentioned the typical image is that of a perfectly manicured, impeccable hair, and bone structured person who puts on their best act for the harrowing crowds. However, I believe it is much more than that because an artist does more than ‘entertain’ the hungry crowds. They infuse their soul, their visions, their reasons to exist on this earth into such a chaotic mixture.”
Cristopher Arredondo
Senior, Sunny Hills High School
Division 2
Strongest Specialty: Fusion
“I always try to find new ways to change how I work in creating my art. Stepping out of my comfort zone used to be a big challenge for me, but it’s something I always worked on. Whether it be texture or how I make shapes with my body. This always connects to my dancing, and how I display my body in my art I always try to make the audience feel my emotions as I’m dancing and connect in a way that feels personal to them.”
Tatum Bolton
Senior, San Juan Hills High School
Division 1
Strongest Specialty: Contemporary ballet
“Dance, more specifically ballet, has always been a fundamental part of my life. I carry all of my acquired dance lessons into every aspect of my life, especially into academics. Ballet emphasizes not just discipline, but also a strong work ethic, dedication, and perseverance. Dance taught me to enjoy challenges and take risks while knowing that I might not always get the role or first place. Because I don’t define success with winning, I approach new experiences with excitement to learn something new.”
Edward Chen
Senior, Orange County School of the Arts
Division 1
Strongest Specialty: Hip-hop
“Anyone can learn the technique of hitting a hi-hat or dancing a two step, but it takes an artist to know how such tools and movements can be used to tell a story, share a truth, or make a statement. It takes an understanding of the nuances between textures, dynamics within technique, and intention within the creativity to make the world FEEL the essence of art.”
Aimee Cho
Senior, Crean Lutheran High School
Division 1
Strongest Specialty: Contemporary ballet
Aimee Cho of Irvine, a senior studying at Crean Lutheran High School, is a dance semifinalist for Artist of the Year in 2024. (Photo courtesy of LK Studio, Inc.)
“Dance has served as my outlet. Regardless of the emotional state of my well-being, dance has consistently provided me with a home. Throughout my training, the transformative power of storytelling has emerged as a compelling concept. It became clear to me that technically nothing matters if one is unable to convey a captivating narrative.”
Katie Couch
Junior, Orange County School of the Arts
Division 1
Strongest Specialty: Contemporary
Katie Couch of Irvine, a junior studying at the Orange County School of the Arts, is a dance semifinalist for Artist of the Year in 2024. (Photo courtesy of Katie Goughan)
“In my opinion, being an artist means creating. Creating shapes, movement, and moments on stage that encompass my soul. It’s filling a room with emotion that leaves a lasting impact – knowing that when your audience goes home, they still think about what they just experienced and wonder why they feel so differently now.”
Mackenzie Couch
Senior, Orange County School of the Arts
Division 1
Strongest Specialty:Jazz
“Over the years, my love for dance has remained unwavering. I’ve dedicated myself to the art, striving to be authentic while absorbing the wisdom and creativity of the artists around me. Dance, for me, is more than just movement; it’s a profound means of expression. It allows me to convey every emotion, story, and idea through the language of my body, and that kind of power is simply incredible.”
Isabella Guzmán
Junior, Orange County School of the Arts
Division 1
Strongest Specialty: Ballet folklórico
“To me being an artist means having a burning passion for something that has great value in your life and sharing it with others. Being an artist takes dedication, time and commitment. While I’ve grown as a dancer I have had to make many sacrifices and hard decisions in order to maintain my stamina, strength and spots in choreography. Being an artist is definitely a full time job but if you set your mind to it and stay committed it is definitely one of the best experiences.”
Katelyn Hu
Senior, Orange County School of the Arts
Division 1
Strongest Specialty: World
“Years of perfecting plies, arabesques, and pirouettes prepared me for the world of Western dance, but stepping into Eastern dance at thirteen felt like uncharted territory. I stepped into my first class of Chinese dance, expecting the same comforting feeling of the marley floor, but as soon as my foot came into contact with the floor, I was filled with a profound sense of embarrassment. I felt this same unfamiliar feeling resurfacing after my performance until I finally unearthed an answer that resonated deeply within me: it was a tribute to my heritage, a means of preserving the essence of my culture.”
Jessie Levasheff
Senior, Pacifica Christian High School
Division 1
Strongest Specialty: Contemporary
“I think to be an artist means to be willing to struggle with ideas, whether that’s through seeking to better understand a social issue or by examining one’s own thoughts. And to guide a pencil smoothly across a paper or hold one’s shoulders in the correct posture as one dances, an artist must be willing to put in hard work. So, I think to be an artist means to be a part of a rewarding process. The struggle and hard work we put into our craft leads to beauty, change, and inspiration.”
Michelle Lu
Junior, Portola High School
Division 1
Strongest Specialty: Classical ballet
“For me, the dance floor becomes a canvas where my body becomes a testament to self-acceptance. I believe a dancer’s artistry lies not only with the flow of the choreography, but in their ability to channel the raw authenticity of their experiences into each performance.”
Sage Allegra Reeves
Senior, Santa Margarita Catholic High School
Division 1
Strongest Specialty: Lyrical
“Dance is my life’s breath. It’s my stress relief, my therapy, and my artistic outlet. …Being an artist, to me, is channeling raw human emotion and manifesting it outwardly in a way that’s my own; my preferred medium happens to be movement. Whether I’m performing, competing, choreographing new pieces for my dance community, or making TikToks with my friends – you will find me dancing!”
Piper Rovsek
Junior, Orange County School of the Arts
Division 1
Strongest Specialty: Contemporary
“I believe that being an artist means having a language of your own. Possessing a voice to use in which unveils the most profound findings of your unique human experience. To portray a glimpse of you, a glimpse that is often concealed. All of these aspects make up the artist in me as I live my day to day life. Dance breathes with every step I take, infusing me with significance.”
Stephanie Soo Yeon Suh
Senior, Crean Lutheran High School
Division 1
Strongest Specialty: Classical ballet
Stephanie Soo Yeon Suh of Irvine, a senior studying at Crean Lutheran High School, is a dance semifinalist for Artist of the Year in 2024. (Photo courtesy of Yoon Sik Kim)
“Being an artist means to me being able to express and share my thoughts through artwork. Expressing myself through artwork would be a difficult task not only as a person who wants to become an artist but also as a person who is called an artist, and it always challenges me to think about and solve constantly. Expressing something through art is bound to be complicated and confusing because art is so abstract (intangible) and infinite.”
Bochin Tong
Senior, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts
Division 1
Strongest Specialty: Rhythmic gymnastics
“What I love about being a dancer is being able to connect with others through movement. There is an indescribable feeling when you step off stage with your best friends, right after performing your life out in front of a house-filling audience. That everything you worked for, every detail and correction, every hour spent rehearsing was worth it. And as we stand side-stage, catching our breath, pride and contentment envelop us.”
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