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Artist of the Year 2023 for dance: Jonah Smith

April 30, 2023

Jonah Smith did something none of the other student dancers tried in their live presentations for Artist of the Year.

He performed without music.

Like all 15 semifinalists, he had five minutes to show off his talent on the dance floor at Chapman University’s newly opened Sandi Simon Center for Dance.

Film and TV: Magdalena Aparicio, Yorba Linda High School
Theater: Selma Elbalalesy, Aliso Niguel High School
Instrumental music: Lucie Kim, Orange County School of the Arts
Vocal music: Adrianna Tapia, Santa Ana High School
Fine Arts: Alexandra Hernandez, Costa Mesa High School
Media arts: Zachary Cramer, Fountain Valley High School

Smith, 17, chose to specialize in commercial dance. Dancers in all categories had to self-choreograph at least one of their two numbers. Smith created the steps for both his pieces.

He began with a contemporary dance to the spoken word “Interrogation” by Travis Lake. Throughout, an interrogator repeatedly asked the question, “How does it feel to be broken?”

Smith’s second performance — to “Therapy” by Andrew Garfield and Vanessa Hudgens — reflected his background in musical theater. He started as a youngster doing musicals and a year later, at 6, the theater studio suggested he try its new dance program.

Jonah Smith, a senior at Orange County School of the Arts, is the 2023 Artist of the Year in dance. Jonah is shown in the Attallah Piazza fountain at Chapman University in Orange on Sunday, April 16, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

He’s been a dancer ever since — using movement to work through those times when he himself might have felt as if bottled-up emotions might break him.

In describing his love for dance, Smith wrote: “I found that this new form of communication could better demonstrate what I was trying to say on a personal level, and it has been a joy in my life ever since.”

The joy shone through in his performance to “Therapy.” He had only heard that song for the first time a month earlier and prepared his choreography specifically for the Artist of the Year presentation.

His choreography to “Interrogation” was also a first — Smith had never attempted to dance to a spoken word performance before.

He did both dances in a pair of loose, sparkly pants split on the sides of each leg up to the knee. Yes, that attire also caught the judges’ eyes.

No surprise that one of his dreams for the future is to go on tour as a dancer with a musical artist. Rihanna, to be specific.

“The Super Bowl,” Smith told the panel, referring to Rihanna’s halftime show at Super Bowl LVII in February, “changed my life.”

That comment got a chuckle from the six judges, but later as they discussed the Artist of the Year contenders, his words and actions stood out as serious business.

“I felt like I was witnessing a pure artist,” said Heather Gillette, a professor of dance who co-chairs the Santa Ana College dance department.

Judy Scialpi, a dance teacher at Northwood High School, said Smith’s thoughtful remarks “made me want to have an artistic conversation with him.”

Smith will be around for her to follow up on that if she wants — he said he’s “100% committed” to attending Chapman University as a dance major.

So, look for him at the Sandi Simon Center for Dance before he heads out on tour someday.

Dance finalists

Dance is divided into four specialties: commercial dance, concert dance, hip hop, and world/cultural dance. In addition to Artist of the Year, the judges selected finalists in each category.

Alexandria Rose Schachter of Costa Mesa, a senior studying at Newport Harbor High School, was selected as the finalist in the specialty of commercial dance for Artist of the Year in 2023. (Photo courtesy of Reo Derrick)

Commercial Dance: Alexandria Rose Schachter, 18, senior at Newport Harbor High. She’s earned a scholarship to attend the University of Arizona and auditioned for USC as well. She’d love to go on tour as a dancer and choreograph for the screen and stage. Her dad is a special education P.E. teacher and Schachter grew up understanding the potential for connection through movement: “Dance is such a universal language. Everyone can move their body.”

Courtney Chiu of Westminster, a senior studying at the Orange County School of the Arts, was selected as the finalist in the specialty of concert dance for Artist of the Year in 2023. (Photo courtesy of Claire Imler)

Concert Dance: Courtney Chiu, 17, senior at Orange County School of the Arts. Chiu’s love for dance started when she was 7 and followed her sister’s footsteps into baby Hulu classes. (Her mother grew up in Hawaii.) She loved the drums, the gourds, the skirts, the flowers in her hair. “I was always so excited. I always remember I dance because I love it.” She plans to study dance and psychology in college, hoping to explore how dance can help people with dementia.

Faith Aguilar of Tustin, a senior studying at the Orange County School of the Arts, was selected as the finalist in the specialty of hip hop for Artist of the Year in 2023. (Photo courtesy of Ulrika Molin)

Hip-hop: Faith Aguilar, 17, senior at Orange County School of the Arts. Hip hop dance comes naturally to her. After all, her parents met at a 24 Hour Fitness hip hop class. But she likes to challenge herself and grow as a dancer. She wants to earn a degree in fine arts, then pursue a career in commercial dance, choreograph for the stage, and teach. As an artist, Aguilar wrote, “the goal is to remind our fast-paced society to slow down and focus on the real substance within people.”

Raaga Mahesh of Irvine, a junior studying with private instructor Viji Prakash, was selected as the finalist in the specialty of world/cultural dance for Artist of the Year in 2023. (Photo courtesy of John Merrell)

World/Cultural Dance: Raaga Mahesh, 16, junior at Irvine High. Her mother and her aunt were both practiced in Bharatanatym, the classical South Indian style of dancing. Inspired by them, Mahesh says she began her own study of Bharatanatym “before I could even walk” and learned the foundation of the art form on visits to India in classes her aunt taught. She considers herself fortunate to have grown up in a family that knows the importance of art in one’s life.

Orange County Register

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Artist of the Year 2023 for dance: Jonah Smith

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