![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
Performing arts department introduces all-male dance troupe
Freshman Christopher Gong and juniors Aditya Dhar and Alexander Lam participate in a hip-hop move called the “Freeze.” Kinetic Krew held its first practice today.
The performing arts department held their first practice for the upper school’s new all-male dance troupe, Kinetic Krew, in the dance room this afternoon.
Auditions for the team were held on Aug. 27; 25 students auditioned and the dancers selected for the 14-member team were announced the following day via email.
Karl Kuehn, who coaches the Girls’ Varsity Troupe, advocated for Kinetic Krew to be started this year, after having started High Voltage, the middle school all-boys dance group, following his entry into the performing arts faculty.
“I saw a gap between the middle school boy dancers and the high school boys and I wanted to bridge that gap,” Kuehn said. “It was a natural progression that needed to take place.”
The performing arts department selected Jazon Escultura as the troupe’s choreographer. Escultura’s past experience includes positions with South Bay Ballet Arts, Morgan Hill Dance Center, Castro Valley Performing Arts, Dance Theater International and Ballet San Jose. Escultura has both performed and directed with Kuehn in the past.
After dancing with High Voltage under the direction of choreographer Kento Vo, freshman Timothy Wang, who entered Harker’s dance program in kindergarten, shares where his interest in the crew originated from.
“I think it’s great having an all boys hip-hop team,” he said. “I was a middle school dancer as well and I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to continue dancing. Now, they incorporated it and I’m really excited.”
Tamlyn Doll (11), a member of the Girls’ Varsity Troupe, communicated her support of the group.
“I’m so glad that it was added because I know so many boys who wanted to dance more and now they finally can,” she said. “I hope they can teach me a few hip-hop moves.”
In addition to Kinetic Krew, the three campuses house a number of other dance groups, including Girls’ Varsity and Girls’ Junior Varsity at the upper school, High Voltage and Showstoppers at the middle school and Dance Fusion at the lower school.
Kinetic Krew holds practices every Friday from 2:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. They will perform at upper school functions and community events, such as the Family Picnic, Santana Row Tree Lighting Ceremony and Harker’s annual Holiday Tour.
Tara Parimi (12) is co-Editor-in-Chief of Harker Aquila, and this is her fourth year on staff. She has been involved with the upper school's journalism...
Anjay Saklecha (12) is the Senior Winged Post Copy Editor and Columnist. This is his fourth year on staff. He was the Copy Editor last year and former...