Bittersweet Goodbye: Senior Dancers Cherish Last moments in High School

Senior Dancers close a chapter of their life dancing in High School moving on to bigger and brighter futures

By: Brisa Magana

Redwood High School’s senior dancers, danced through their years to come to an end sharing memories and plans as they exit the stage, on June 2nd, 2026.

The 2026 seniors have created long time existing friends, memories, stories to tell when they get old and last but not least being amazing dancer role models everyone looked up to not just for their dancing skills but their sparkly personality’s and their hard work and dedication they put into dance to be recognizable.

Matthew Merten, ’26, is a 4 year dancer at Redwood High School Involved in all dance classes throughout his High School year creating an impact in the dance department as well as in Dance Force.

Merten says, “My biggest goals and dreams are to get my degree in dance, do some professional work in dance, maybe open a studio or coach an elite team.”

Karis Nepinsky, ’26, is a 4 year Dance Force Ranger at Redwood, putting her destiny into what she loves.

Nepinsky says, “My dance journey has definitely been bittersweet I’m so sad to leave everyone but so excited to start a new journey,”

Elle Pinheiro, ’26, is a 4 year dancer in advanced with an amazing loving personality and always has a smile while dancing.

Pinheiro says, “Try new things, experience new things, do as much as you can meet new people before your time is over,”

The seniors time has come to an end with many emotions to end their journey in high school but a fresh new start to a new chapter in their life.

Dance has offered them confidence, memories, friendships, and a place to just have fun and make high school a memorable moment in their lives.

Merten says, “I feel so grateful for the friendships I made through dance at rhs, I have made some of my closest friends through the program but dance has also helped me gain confidence in myself in performing and in my everyday life. I have learned to fully not care what people think.”

After Highschool there are many decisions to make, friends go their separate ways and each of them go on their own path but memories always stay locked in your hearts.

Merten says, “My favorite thing I’m gonna miss is doing things for the first time. This entire senior year was filled with 1sts and I find that to always be the most fun.”

Every day throughout the year they are spending together they’re bond and friendship becomes strong especially when practicing for dance show, it takes patience and time but it goes by fast since they all get along and are creating memories even when its the same thing over and over again.

Nepinsky says, “I think a dance show has to be my favorite memory I think it just makes everyone so much closer,”

Pinheiro agree’s, “I feel like there are so much fun traditions, like, a candy salad each year and other, just like stuff that, like, little fun traditions that you do [during] dance show,”

After High School plans and choices can be hard to choose from but Mertin has dreams of his own to accomplish, “I envision my life still filled with dance, I will be attending Chapman University and will be majoring in dance.”

Tags: rangers, Redwood, redwood high school, redwood journalism, rhs, Seniordancers