Just Dance XX

Twenty years ago, Mrs. Noriega, a.k.a. “Nori”, was a first year dance teacher at Desert Mountain High School. She was excited and a bit stressed about running her first show at a new school. She struggled to come up with a meaningful title for this first show. When she lamented about this to her wonderful husband, Phil, he said, “It’s Just Dance.” And with that, history was made. 

I have had the pleasure of being in four “DMHS Just Dance” performances. I have grown from being terrified as a freshman, when Nori said it was mandatory to perform on stage, to being thrilled as a senior to perform on stage. 

High school can be a hard place to fit in but, for 20 years, Nori has given her students a safe, supportive, accepting home for their high school life. I am forever grateful to her and hope someday I can make a fraction of the impact she’s made.