Senior Adolfo Ortiz-Feder started dancing competitively his freshman year, but was also part of the Millennium boys dance class in middle school. At school, Ortiz-Feder has also been actively performing. He has been part of the annual Beta Chi talent show since his freshman year.
Junior Raymund Vista, who has seen Ortiz-Feder perform, assured, “He doesn’t fail to impress anybody that watches him dance.”
Ortiz-Feder is also a Thespian and active member in the Seminole High School Theatre Company. He helped choreograph dances for Beauty and the Beast, Night of Living Dead, Father of the Bride, and Rebel Without a Cause. He is expecting to also help choreograph Wizard of Oz as well.
Junior Alex Rodriquez, who’s worked with Ortiz-Feder in the past, said, “Ortiz-Feder takes the lead as he choreographs pieces. No one questions his knowledge of dance considering it comes so naturally to him.”
This summer, Ortiz-Feder also performed as a dancer in Premios Juventud, an awards show for Spanish-speaking celebrities. The event includes performances by famous singers and dancers.
“It’s like the Hispanic version of the Grammies,” commented Ortiz-Feder.
Ortiz-Feder was informed about this event through his studio. Out of the three people that auditioned from his studio, he was the only one to qualify.
“I got the confirmation on my birthday,” he said.
The Premios Juventud took place in Miami this year. Ortiz-Feder commuted to Miami for four weeks of rehearsals and stayed an entire week in Miami for the show. Ortiz-Feder performed for Kevin Ortiz, a Mexican singer who composes and sings with his brother Gerardo Ortiz Ortiz-Feder described his time performing for Kevin Ortiz as “very surreal being on stage; really great experience.”
When asked how he balanced the workload expected from the rigorous IB program and dance, Ortiz-Feder replied with a positive attitude and said, “It just enhances more of the time management that IB deems so important.”
“Dance is a way for me to say things I can’t articulate and is a coping mechanism,” said Ortiz-Feder. One of his pet peeves is how male dancers and backup dancers are not as highly regarded. As a dancer, Ortiz-Feder wants to change this and aspires to be part of the generation that brings dance forward.