Yaretzi: Today’s Musicians, Tomorrow’s Trailblazers

Dance is an art that requires dedication, grace, and, most importantly, passion. Yaretzi Garcia, our 8th grade SOUNDS Academy student, has embraced these qualities and more in performing in The Nutcracker hosted by the Southwest Ballet Theatre at Estrella Mountain Community College. 

When Yaretzi Garcia stepped onto the stage as Clara in The Nutcracker, she carried more than dance choreography and music with her. She carried dedication, growth, and a deep love for the arts. Taking on a lead role is challenging in many ways, yet Yaretzi rose to the occasion with focus and confidence. Her performance was a beautiful reflection of the work she has committed to both onstage and in the classroom as a SOUNDS Academy student.

For Yaretzi, this role represented courage. Navigating high-pressure environments requires awareness and preparation, and Yaretzi’s ability to remain present on stage reflected her growth and maturity as an artist. When asked about what this role meant to her, Yaretzi responded, “Courage, because I faced my fears and didn’t let fear control the outcome of something I love to do, and because I had the courage to ask for help when I most needed it. I didn’t hide in fear.”

Her willingness to show up fully, even during challenging seasons, speaks volumes about her commitment to her craft.

Yaretzi also credits her growth as a dancer to the musical foundation as a violinist and pianist, which she has built at SOUNDS Academy. She started her SOUNDS Academy journey with the violin at five years old and added piano at seven. She has always looked up to her brother, alumni Nathaniel Garcia, throughout her life which helped inspire her. She admitted that she fell into a period of self-doubt and depression as a musician, but credited her team and family for helping her get back on her feet and rekindle her passion for music.

 Her understanding of rhythm, counting, and musical structure has become a powerful tool in her performances. “I use the musical skills I’ve learned at SOUNDS Academy and apply them to dance,” she explained. “I get creative with the music and my movements, and knowing how to count music has helped me stay on rhythm when dancing.” 

Stepping into a lead role also revealed something new to Yaretzi: leadership. While she wasn’t entirely sure how to articulate it at first, she began to recognize the responsibility that comes with being someone others look up to. She understood that her actions mattered and that perseverance through her own difficulties helped maintain morale throughout rehearsals and performances. This realization marked an important moment of growth for her, and gives others who are following her footsteps a great example to look to. Perseverance and leadership are two of our five character values, both of which are very important values we are proud to see blossom in our students’ life journeys, especially Yaretzi’s.

We are incredibly proud of Yaretzi’s journey and the artist she continues to become. Her performance as Clara is a milestone worth celebrating, not only for the role itself, but for the courage, creativity, and leadership it represents. Yaretzi’s story reflects what we strive to cultivate in every student: confident musicians today and leaders for tomorrow.

Job well done, Yaretzi! 👏🏿👏🏿