Dance Department

Day of Dance and Cheer 2024

The Napa High Spiritleaders Boosters Presents:

“NHS Dance Preview Night” March 18th, 2025 7pm in the NHS gym. This is a preview night for our Spring Show!

"Gold & Glamour" April 24-26, 2025 in Evan's Auditorium, District Office. This is a Dance Department night of performances not to be missed.

This is a Napa Spiritleaders Booster sponsored event.

Open link for details!

Want to join our dance program?

To join our NHS Dance Family for the school year you must select Dance 1 as one of your electives in the course selection process. If you have several years of dance training please email Director HJ at hjohnson@nvusd.org. Follow us on Instagram @nhsdancedept for updates!

Welcome to the Napa High School Dance Family

The Napa High School Dance Department was founded in August 1992 and provides professional level training to beginner through advanced level dancers. The 200 plus dancers are an inclusive, supportive environment that celebrates diversity. Fondly referred to as the “NHS Dance Family” it is a home away from home where students create memories and friendships that last a lifetime. Training includes jazz, ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, latin rhythm, breakdancing and pom.

Please follow us on our Instagram accounts @NHSdancedept and @NHSSpiritleaders for all things related to dance in our Dance Family.

Class Offerings & Performing Opportunities

All dancers have the opportunity to perform in multiple styles of dance; jazz, ballet, contemporary, hip hop, latin rhythm, break dancing and pom.

Performance opportunities at pep rallies, community events, showcases, productions, student works and competitive teams.

We offer:

Dance level Jazz 1
Dance level Jazz 2
Dance level Jazz 3
Dance level Jazz 4
Production & Performance
Spiritleaders
Breakers Team
Latin Rhythm “Salsa” Team

BREAKERS

BREAKERS

Breakers is offered as a class you can get PE credit for under the “Fit for Life” PE class. Ask your counselor to sign you for Breakers under the Fit for Life PE class after getting permission from Coach P. The Breakers perform at the Big Game night time rally, the Big Game varsity football halftime show, Day of Dance & Cheer Showcase and the annual Spring Dance Production. Auditions take place every September. For more information on audition requirements see Director Johnson.

LATIN RHYTHM SALSA

LATIN RHYTHM SALSA

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM - DANCE INTENSIVES

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM - DANCE INTENSIVES

STAFF

STAFF

Director - HJ

hjohnson@nvusd.org

Hollie Johnson implemented the first ever Dance Department at Napa High School in 1992. She is the Artistic Director of the Dance Department and Spiritleader Program. She currently teaches Dance Level Jazz 1, 2, 4, Production and Performance and is the Director of the Spiritleader Team. A professional dancer, choreographer, fitness competitor and instructor her education includes a Dance and Health Science degree from Sacramento State University where she also performed on their college dance team and in a professional dance company in Sacramento. She is also an ACE certified fitness instructor. Johnson was named the “Top 25 Dance Directors in the United States” and was featured in Dance Spirit magazine.

Coach P

rylee_pippert@nvusd.org

Rylee Pippert is an alumni of the Dance Department and Spiritleader team. She is a 3 time All American dancer and a 6 time National champion dancer that also includes International and Grand Champion titles. She received her Dance Degree from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa where she was also a member of their college dance team. Pippert teaches the Dance level Jazz 3, Fit for Life Salsa and Fit for Life Breakers classes at NHS. She is also a dance instructor for the Dance House Napa Valley dance studio, as well as a former dance teacher at Harvest Middle School and NVLA. She is a master choreographer and teacher for various dance teams and dance studios across the country including NDA and DTU. She is the head coach of the Napa High School’s Spiritleaders and Co-Director of the Napa High School Dance Department.

SENIOR DANCE OFFICERS

SENIOR DANCE OFFICERS

Applications to become a Senior Dance Officer are available by the Director Spring semester. Qualifications; you must be a current junior and a member of the dance department. You must exude leadership skills by having a daily strong work ethic, positive attitude, superior dance technique, style, and performing abilities. You must be someone that is patient, motivated, kind, and have a desire to give back to the program and help others achieve their dance goals. If selected you’ll be mentoring one of the dance classes along with other leadership roles.

THE KRIS VAN TREESE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

THE KRIS VAN TREESE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Kris Van Treese was a Dance Teacher and Co-Director of the Dance Department for 10 years. She started the Breakers team and Latin Rhythm Dance team as well as helping to create one of the largest high school dance programs in the United States with over 400 students involved during her tenure at NHS. She passed away on February 1st, 2007. A memorial scholarship is given to dancers in the department who share her love of dance, treat others with kindness and were a part of one of the after school programs she started. We also honor her memory every year by having a tribute dance to a song produced and sung by her youngest son Blake, performed by our Senior Dance Officers at our Spring Dance Production. #wedanceforMrs.V #alwaysinourhearts

CONTRIBUTIONS

CONTRIBUTIONS

Supporting the NHS Dance Department and/or Kris Van Treese Memorial Scholarship

The NHS Dance Department provides free professional instruction including a host of outside professionals to prepare students for their dance goals. Hundreds of alumni have gone on to dance in prestigious colleges as well as have professional careers in dance. *See Alumni Spotlight Corner *

The program also provides professional costumes, music, music editing/licensing to students for performances. The department must fundraise ALL of their expenses EACH year.

Any donations are tax deductible and a receipt will be mailed to you. Please send your tax deductible donation to:

Napa High School ℅ Hollie Johnson

2475 Jefferson St. Napa, CA 94558.

HIGHLIGHT DANCER OF THE WEEK

HIGHLIGHT DANCER OF THE WEEK

Each week the Dance Department Staff picks a student to highlight their work ethic, technical growth and positive attitude they are demonstrating in their individual class. They are featured on the Dance Department Instagram page as well as receiving a certificate of accomplishment. This is a prestigious honor that dedicated dancers in the department strive to achieve.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT CORNER

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT CORNER

The Dance Department has a staggering number of alumni that used the training they received and passion they developed here at NHS and took it to the next level. From D-1 nationally ranked college dance teams, to professional NFL and NBA dancers, performing at the super bowl, professional dance company members in ballet, contemporary, hip hop and Latin in New York and LA, dance studio owners and teachers, high school dance teachers. fitness instructors and competitors and the list goes on! Check out just some of our incredible alumni!

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