Dance

“And you can dance….for inspiration.”

These dancers were “into the groove” on March 14 and 15 at Viewpoint’s Spring Dance Concert 2025, wowing the audience with breathtaking performances, some to iconic 80s songs, “Sunglasses at Night,” “Piano Man,” and “Dancing in the Dark.” The production is an inspiring culmination of Co-Directors and Choreographers Mandy Bahnuik and Gabrielle Brown, and their students’ hard work, showcasing the power of dance to bring together a diverse group of young minds while exhibiting blossoming individual talents.

Featuring 14 pieces in two acts, audiences in our iconic Carlson Family Theater witnessed the physical prowess of our dancers, while connecting with the emotional depth embedded in each performance. 

 “The art of dance has been an invaluable outlet for us during this time,” said Mandy Bahnuik. “Through movement, our students have expressed the unspoken, explored emotion, and demonstrated the power of collaboration and storytelling.”

“The dance studio and the stage are places where we can simply focus on creating,” said Gabrielle Brown. “The physical and mental aspects of dance force us to be fully present, and thus, in these spaces, while students learn new steps, develop ideas and skills, and express themselves through movement, the world and its stressors seem to melt away.”

With inspiring and intricate choreography, set to a wide variety of music, the concert also included magnificent costumes and lighting design. Dance Ensembles included Viewpoint Dance Company, Upper School Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Lower School Dancers, Featured Dancers, and Partner Dancers.

On Friday, December 6, the joyful sounds of children’s voices filled the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s Kavli Theater, as Viewpoint’s Primary and Lower School students presented their holiday program, “We Are Lights.”  

With enthusiastic and heartfelt performances from each of the classes, as well as the Primary and Lower School Choruses and Dancers, and the Advanced Fifth Grade Strings, the audience delighted in the spirit of the season. In addition to music and dance performances, narrators from the Fifth Grade class shared holiday traditions practiced by cultures around the world and delivered holiday sentiments in eight different languages - Russian, Japanese, Hebrew, Persian, Hungarian, Vietnamese, Mandarin, and Korean.

Viewpoint’s dance teacher Gabrielle Brown, a former soloist with American Ballet Theater, choreographed excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, performed by the Primary and Lower School Dancers, led by Jordan Aaronson ’26, Chloe Brendle ’26, Charlotte Hariton ’26, Isabella Wang ’28, Finn Harrington ’29, Callie Roskowinski ’31, and Keira Pescherine ’31.

“As I celebrate my tenth year as Head of School, I realize just how much I’ve come to love this annual celebration,” shared Mark McKee. “For me, perhaps for you, it kicks off the holiday season, as we hear and sing music together, learn about one another’s families and stories and traditions, and celebrate our students and our connections with one another.” 

During the program, the school celebrated Claudia Antoine, Head of Lower School, who was honored for her 34 years of service and her final Holiday Program before retirement. Recognized for her love of students and the holidays, as well as her ability to uplift those around her, Claudia was thanked and congratulated for her dedication to the Viewpoint community.

The holiday program concluded with Viewpoint’s Giving of the Greens prepared by the VSSA. This annual tradition, in which each child receives a beautiful spray of greens, represents the School’s abiding belief in the continual growth of each student and the warmest wishes for a joyful holiday season.

Viewpoint School recognizes Bradley Gail, Timothy and Christina Gaspar, and Dr. Niniek Purnomo and Klaus A. Woizik for their leadership support in the Viewpoint Fund and their symbolic sponsorship of this event as donors in our Chair's and Head of School Circles.

On March 15 and 16, Viewpoint presented Spring Dance Concert 2024, an inspiring culmination of Co-Directors and Choreographers Mandy Bahnuik and Gabrielle Brown, and their students’ hard work, showcasing the power of dance to bring together a diverse group of young minds while exhibiting blossoming individual talents.

Featuring 17 pieces in two acts, audiences in our iconic Carlson Family Theater witnessed the physical prowess of our dancers, while connecting with the emotional depth embedded in each performance. 

 “Our dance concert serves as a testament to the power of artistic exploration and the profound impact it has on the holistic development of our students,” said Mandy Bahnuik. “In the realm of dance we find a language that transcends words, allowing us to communicate emotions, stories, and ideas in a unique and powerful way.”

“The dance concert is not just about striving for the perfect pirouette or the flawless lift - it also is about learning what to do when things don’t go as expected,” said Gabrielle Brown. “The students get to experience what is so exciting about live performances, thinking on their feet, and adapting challenges in real time.”

With inspiring and intricate choreography, set to a wide variety of music, the concert also included breathtaking costumes and lighting design. Dance Ensembles included Viewpoint Dance Company, Upper School Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop and Tap, and Lower School, Featured, and Partner Dancers.

After countless hours in Viewpoint’s dance studio and tireless dedication to the craft, Kaylyn Robertson ’24 is now preparing for several prominent roles in the upcoming performance of The Nutcracker on December 16 and 17 at the Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center.

Since her earliest memories, Robertson has immersed herself in the world of dance. While for some, dancing may be just a pastime, for Robertson, it's more than a hobby—it's a way of life.

“I first started dancing when I was three years old. My mom put me in classes and I stuck with it all the way until now,” said Robertson.

“Kaylyn is one of the most dedicated dance students and academic students. Her time management skills are amazing,” said Viewpoint Dance Teacher Gabrielle Brown.

Kaylyn's unwavering devotion to her artistry has fueled success in all her pursuits. Apart from participating in the Viewpoint dance program, she also devotes her time to the Pacific Festival Ballet.

“I practice six out of seven days a week every week except for holidays,” added Robertson. “As far as the Nutcracker is concerned, we are fully immersed in the rehearsal process—Tuesdays, Fridays, and sometimes Saturdays for me”

"Kaylyn has secured some truly impressive leading roles this year. She's taking on the challenging characters of the Snow Queen, Marzipan, and a Snow Fairy," said Brown.

Although Kaylyn doesn’t plan on pursuing a professional career in dance, she still plans on incorporating it into her college experience.

"I don't anticipate majoring in dance, but hopefully, I can pursue a minor or join one of the dance programs to continue performing," said Robertson. "I love it and it has been a huge part of my life for the past 14 years."

“Working with Kaylyn has been delightful and I’m so sad that she’s graduating,” said Brown. “We’re all so proud of her and look forward to witnessing all that she will continue to accomplish.”