When Mrs. Barnett, head of the Math Department and Dance teacher, opened the doors to her dance class at Coronado High School in the fall of 2022, she hoped to bring her love of movement to a handful of students. What began as a small experiment has evolved into a thriving program recognized for its energy, creativity, and strong sense of community.
The idea for the class took root thanks to Darin Smith, current West Area Superintendent, who encouraged Mrs. Barnett to launch a dance class. With the support of Principal Addie Arnell and Dean of Students Mr. Lizarraga, the class has gained momentum in the last four years.
“It’s been so fun to bring my dance background to my students here,” Mrs. Barnett said. “Each year, I try to put more student agency into the class.”
The program reached an early milestone with its first performance at Wasson in November/December 2022, a show that confirmed the students’ talent and dedication. Since then, enrollment has continued to climb. “There has been an increase in student enrollment, especially compared to the first year when no one really knew what the class was going to consist of, and the class has become a fun gym option for many,” Mrs. Barnett explained.
Standout students and seniors such as Laila Reyes Ochoa, Breckyn Trujillo, Domenica Thomas, and Lacey Peterson have helped set the tone for excellence. Their leadership and creativity inspired younger dancers and helped shape the culture of the class.
While the group thrives, challenges remain. Level 1–2 dancers often face the hurdle of shyness or stage fright when it comes to performing. Mrs. Barnett addresses this by promoting a supportive environment and encouraging upperclassmen to mentor younger students. She states, “I love when students step up the longer they are with me. My hope is that this becomes more of a student-led group like many other high schools offer.”
Looking ahead, administrators are exploring how the program might expand. Mr. Gutowski, Coronado’s athletic director, shared that there is not much talk of a future dance team as “having a dance team requires some things to be done with CHSAA and getting approved by our district to run a dance team, as well as hiring a coach for the position.” Mrs. Barnett shares that vision: “I see my students growing every year. I have been approached by a few students about a dance team. While I’m not opposed to it, the logistics are challenging at the moment!”
Still, Gutowski remains open to the idea at least shifting to hosting performances here at Coronado instead of at Wasson, where all have been held so far: “As far as hosting the dance performance at Coronado, this could be done but would need coordination with the district and other teams.”
From a single idea to a vibrant program that came to fruition in 2022, Coronado’s dance class shows how passion, and a lot of hard work, can turn a simple vision into an enduring part of the school’s culture, with an exciting future still on the horizon.
