If you were in the vicinity of Long Beach Boulevard and Broadway last week, you may have seen a group of young people, clad in black, jumping, twirling, moving, dancing on the sidewalk in front of the Bank of America, across from the Metro platform. If you happened to be walking by, getting off the train or had your car window down, you likely heard the dulcet tones of choreographer Erin Landry instructing the young people to, “FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT!” which, in the language of dance, translates to: “Let’s gooooooo!“

And the various members of the Cabrillo High Dance Department did, over and over and over, with a combustible energy clearly illustrating what it felt like for them to be reunited, in person, for the first time this school year. The troupe was working on a portion of its “Dance Is Life” performance which, for the first time, will be presented virtually. You can register to watch the free event, here.

Keisha Clark-Booth, Cabrillo’s Director of Dance, has had to rehearse her charges via Zoom all this time, which is not ideal, and yet, has managed to keep them engaged and, as we said, energized for “Dance Is Life” which is part performance, part travelogue, as the dancers perform all over the city, from beaches to parks to Signal Hill to downtown in front of the Bank of America, across from the Metro platform.

“Dance Is Life” will air Nov. 19 and 20 at 7 p.m. Check out the trailer below and, above, check out the video of the dancers as they FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT!