Family Matters | Issue 2022

When the members of Vivid Dance Team heard their name announced, they couldn’t contain their emotions.
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“It was overwhelming, exciting, satisfying,” recalls Cece Gu, now a Valley Christian High School senior. “It was also sad in a sense, knowing that it was the last time this particular group would compete together.”

In March of 2022, Vivid was named National Champion of the Extra-Small Open Division at the annual Contest of Champions in Florida, defeating powerhouse programs from all across the country. Extra-Small, of course, applies only to the size of the schools – the accomplishment, and the effort it took to get there, was anything but.

“We felt like all of our time and hard work had paid off,” Gu says. “This dance program has given me so much power and confidence. When I dance here, I feel like I’m at home, with family.”

Family remains a key theme in the VCHS Dance Arts program, even as the “home,” continues to expand. This will be the school’s fifth year of partnering with alumni husband-and-wife Jason and Tawnya Kuzia, both 2001 grads, at their off-campus studio, NorCal Dance Arts. The additional studio space has allowed Valley Christian dancers access to not just more space, but top-of-the-line equipment and instruction. Jason Kuzia has been the VCHS Dance Arts program’s Lighting Designer for over a decade, and both he and Tawnya have years of experience working at the highest levels of the professional dance industry.

“The opportunities to work at the Kuzias’ facilities have been priceless benefits to our dance programs,” says Michelle McLaughlin, Valley Christian’s K-12 Director of Dance. More importantly, their kindness and support for the development of young Christian artists here at Valley Christian has been a tremendous blessing to me and the rest of our faculty.”

“We truly believe the experience and knowledge we gained as students at Valley Christian High School led to the success of our future careers. We are grateful to continue to be a part of the VCHS arts family,” Kuzia says.

“The tremendous growth that has taken place throughout our dance program these past five years could not have happened without the generous support of our VCS alums, Jason and Tawnya Kuzia. Kudos to Michelle McLaughlin, for her efforts in fostering this fantastic partnership between the Conservatory of the Arts and NorCal Dance. It indeed has been a win-win for all!” says Troy Gunter, VP/K-12 Director of the Conservatory of the Arts.

The Kuzias aren’t the only alumni who have been instrumental in the dance program’s recent success – Vivid’s championship-winning performance was choreographed by Tori Evans, who graduated from VCHS in 2010 and has been working with Vivid for years since, even while pursuing her own professional dance career in Los Angeles.

“I am really grateful to work with dance professionals who have different styles and extensive experience in the professional world,” says Gu, who joined the Valley Christian dance program in 6^th grade upon moving from Beijing.

“Working with them has allowed me to open my eyes to dance. I am humbled that this program has granted me access to so many cool spaces, and so many amazing, professional people and experiences.”

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