It’s been three long years since COVID-19 shut down the Long Beach Unified School District’s campuses and extracurricular activities, and while the district has mostly returned to normal operations, some offerings have taken longer than others to come back.

The LBUSD Dance Spectrum is one of those events, but it is now slated to return to the stage for the first time since 2019. Cabrillo High School will host the showcase in its auditorium on Friday at 7 p.m. as the Jaguars also welcome Long Beach Poly, Wilson, Millikan, Lakewood, Jordan, Renaissance and CAMS high schools to perform.

Not only is it rare for all LBUSD high schools to get together to participate in one single event, it’s also rare to find a school district that allows its schools to put on a show when they’re not competing against each other.

“We’ve all worked hard and been waiting (since before the pandemic), so we’re very excited for this event that allows our programs to come together and share what we do,” Cabrillo Dance Director Keisha Clark-Booth said. “Each program has their own specialties and way of performing. … It’s really everybody’s best work, their best dancers and top-level group they use to compete or tour.”

Proceeds from the event will be split between the eight dance programs as a fundraiser.

Clark-Booth said she is expecting the Dance Spectrum to be a sellout, but for last-minute tickets email [email protected].

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