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Senior advanced dancer Oscar Gutierrez shares how he survived and thrived in high school
[dropcap size=big]F[/dropcap]ive, six, seven, eight…”
The advanced dance class suddenly bursts to life at the sound of their choreographer’s count, filling up what would be a quiet mirrored practice room with life. Everyone smiles, ready to put their work out to an audience for the PRHS open house. Right in the front row, pure fluidity all the way to his fingertips, is their proud choreographer: senior Oscar Gutierrez.
Originally trained as a gymnast, Gutierrez was first encouraged to start dancing in sixth grade. He began at the Paso Robles Youth Arts Foundation, or PRYAF, but his dedication and talent were quickly noticed and he received a scholarship to start taking classes at Class Act Dance. He now dances for about ten hours every week, spending his whole four years of high school with the advanced dance class, and takes classes on the side when he has the chance, even traveling down to LA sometimes to attend one at a professional studio.
“Oscar has a maturity about him,” advanced dance instructor Jennifer Bedrosian said. “When he dances, I see stories that not everyone can tell. He is a quiet person at school but he speaks volumes when he is on stage…. He is just one of those kids, who, in the middle of class, when it is completely crazy, I can look at him, and he quietly laughs because he totally gets my frustration. Teachers only get a few of those kids who totally get it. He is one of them.” 
However, Gutierrez, always active, finds other ways to keep himself busy, both on campus and off. This past year, he participated in Link Crew and Crimson Crew, as well as taking many rigorous courses over his years and notes how he tried to push himself through his years at the school. Though he never played any sports, he was still incredibly active at football games from cheering in the crowds to dancing on the field at halftime with the rest of his advanced dance class.
“My schedule is always having to change,” Gutierrez said. “One thing I definitely notice is that you have to be more communicative. So, like, with balancing things out, I have to look at my schedule and if I have work that day, I have to ask for it off. I have to communicate if I have to do other stuff. I just have to think, ‘what’s more valuable to do?’”
Gutierrez appeared to light up when asked about his plans, describing how he’s “known for a while now” what he wanted to do. He explained goals of moving to LA to audition for a scholarship program at a professional studio called The Edge.
Gutierrez also explained a very intriguing side opportunity to travel with a dance convention on the weekends as an assistant intern. He humbly noted that it would “be a privilege just to travel with a company to competitions and be an assistant to be a really big name choreographers.”
Still, even with this excitement towards the future, Gutierrez begins to reminisce about his years at PRHS with his greatly loved dance troupe.
“I only had four dance shows and they went by so quick,” he said. “Those were the big memories that I cherish…. The whole process of creativity, the whole process of cleaning, the process of learning – those are probably the best things.”
Gutierrez seemed to smile through his past four years, seemingly spreading joy to everyone around him, something that may have not been as hard to accomplish as it seemed.
“Take time to listen to everything that’s happening around you. Really settle into the moment because the moment’s where you feel like ‘oh my gosh, this is so much fun!’ So take time to remember that because those memories are going to be the passion that drive you through high school.”
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Bailando a su propio ritmo
[dropcap size=big]E[/dropcap] l estudiante de grado duodécimo Oscar Gutiérrez ha pasado los últimos seis años inmerso en el mundo de la danza. Su fluidez y dedicación rápidamente lo empujo a la cima. Gutiérrez ha estado en el nivel avanzado durante los últimos cuatro años y ha coreografiado los números para la casa abierta de PRHS y el espectáculo avanzado de danza.
“Oscar tiene una madurez acerca de él,” dijo la instructora de danza avanzada Jennifer Bedrosian. “Cuando él baila, veo historias que no todos pueden contar”.
Después de graduarse, Gutiérrez planea mudarse a Los Ángeles para hacer una audición para un programa de becas con un estudio profesional llamado The Edge. También tiene la oportunidad de viajar con una convención de baile los fines de semana.
Aunque emocionado por su futuro, Gutiérrez recuerda sus últimos cuatro años, su amada compañía de baile y sus emocionantes actuaciones.
“Tómate tiempo para escuchar todo lo que está sucediendo a tu alrededor. Siéntate realmente en el momento porque el momento es donde te sientes como ‘oh, Dios mío, ¡esto es muy divertido!’ Así que tómate un tiempo para recordarlo porque esos recuerdos serán la pasión que te llevará a la escuela secundaria.”
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