January, 2022, 11th Grade
"I remember that nervous night in 6th grade, as I sat on a wet railing, swinging my cold feet. I was hesitant. I was afraid of stepping out of my comfort zone. I was used to sticking to soccer as my only extracurricular, going to school solely to be with my friends, and playing video games as soon as I got home. I never would have thought of taking a class with all girls. But ultimately, I jumped off the rail, and I took my teachers advice.
I signed up for the new elective class: Ballet."- Diego Soto Lopez
May, 2017, 6th Grade
All school performance
Boys Ballet started with an IDEA --- In the summer of 2017 with 20 ballet Boys going to Scripps Performing Arts Academy, by school van, three times a week (in 2016-2017), the boys asked if they could build a ballet studio at our school. The Director of our school said yes and during the summer they converted an old classroom into a Ballet Studio with the help of Scripps Performing Arts Academy. Boys Ballet at Gompers Preparatory Academy was born!
BOYS DANCE TOO.
Glue foam on the bottom of the wood, to make it a sprung floor
working long hours to make the studio
All ballet boys signed the bottom of the last board that was placed at the entrance to the studio
The day before the studio would have Vinyl Marley floor installed
Above, WE MADE HISTORY in South East San Diego....my first class of ballet. I'm the 3rd in the back on the right. Mr. Gary Sevani, in the center, is our teacher - August 2017
We were allowed back into the Ballet Studio, at Scripps Performing Arts Academy to continue with Ballet.
Left to right: Diego, Christopher, Daniel, Jaziel, Brandon, Andres, Diego (ME), Mr. Gary Sevani (teacher), Diego, Cisco, Osvaldo, Ryan, Kevin (@Scripps Performing Arts Academy)