Hillsides Outreach

Teenagers-awkward, shy and gawky? Not according to Cindy Montoya, who has first-hand knowledge as director of the newly comprehensive dance program for Middle and Upper Schoolers. “I’m completely surprised by how willing they are to take risks," Cindy said of her Middle School students. "I think they trust that I won’t send them out on stage unless they feel fabulous about their performance.”

And where could that confidence come from, other than a solid foundation of technique and exposure to lots of dance styles? Where Poly’s arts department once offered occasional dance electives and training for musical productions, Montoya has developed a progression of dance classes over her seven years at Poly that now builds students' skills from sixth to twelfth grade.