Confidence in Motion: Celebrating Our Middle School MoBu Dancers

Earlier this month, the Fort Mason Cowell Theatre was electric as MoBu Dance Studio celebrated its 29th Anniversary Performance, DancEsteem, with two spectacular, sold-out shows. Among the talented dancers taking the stage for these packed performances were several middle school students from Alta Vista, who proudly represented their school community in this landmark event. Congratulations to Mitali, Zara, Naomi, Annika, and Kyla!

For the tenth-year students—who started at MoBu as preschoolers and have grown up together in Noe Valley—this performance was the culmination of a decade of dedication, friendship, and joy. Some of our 7th-grade dancers, Kyla and Naomi, have spent ten years with the studio and provided an inside look at what it’s really like for this tight-knit group to transition from nervous toddlers to confident leaders on the big stage.

Reaching the tenth year at MoBu comes with major prestige and major responsibility, as these veteran students have the honor of opening all five shows of the performance weekend. It is a grueling but exhilarating schedule, requiring 12 to 13 hours a day at the theater. Beyond dancing, these teenagers are entrusted with managing the chaos backstage, which includes doing hair and makeup for the preschoolers and younger dancers. Dancers recalled that the excitement and the fun were tangible, noting that the most thrilling part was stepping onto the stage and perfectly executing every move alongside classmates. No one in the audience could have guessed that the group had only had four classes together, and that there wasn't a single rehearsal where everyone was present at the same time. Of course, with prestige comes pressure. The build-up to the performance brought plenty of nerves and the anxiety of messing up, but the stage ultimately becomes a sanctuary where the body takes over to convey the emotion of the piece and performing becomes second nature.

MoBu’s name means "True Dance," and the studio’s core mission is building self-esteem. That philosophy creates an environment that feels vastly different from typical competitive youth sports. Dancers note that this is a stark contrast to experiences on club sports teams, where teammates often find themselves competing with friends for a top spot. At MoBu, growing up in a tight-knit community since the age of three creates a deep sense of belonging. The inherent joy and drive of dance, coupled with the immense support provided by both the teachers and the peers, creates a safe and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive together.

This year’s performance theme was "Museum," with each dance inspired by a specific artwork. Choreographer Maya Moshin created a powerful piece for the class inspired by the Caryatids: Daughters of Athens, telling the story of the British taking one of the historical statues. The students were highly collaborative throughout the process, helping select the music, costumes, and creative direction. They even advocated to include a favorite, challenging move called the "corkscrew turn"—a complex and intricate turn that brings the dancer gracefully to the floor. Maya had introduced it to them before show preparations began, and the dancers loved it so much they asked to have it integrated into the final choreography.

You learn a lot about people when you spend ten years dancing by their side, and at this point, the long-term classmates function as a family. When choreography gets tough, their first instinct isn't to ask the teacher; instead, they observe each other, learning through trial, error, and peer feedback. Dancers reflect that the friends who have seen you grow up from a three-year-old to a teenager, and who have seen you utterly exhausted, make-up smudged, and running on Starbucks and Sour Patch Kids, are true, lifelong keepers.

This supportive spirit is passed down through generations, creating a beautiful full-circle environment backstage. Before the shows, a popular ritual involving shaking out and counting down from eight always brings a sense of fun and high energy to the wings. The studio's values of mentorship and connection leave a lasting impact at any age, establishing deep roots that keep dancers returning year after year. For any second- or third-graders feeling nervous about taking their first dance class or stepping onto the recital stage, the message from our middle school dancers is clear: just join. Everyone at the studio is incredibly sweet and kind, and because everyone starts as a beginner, how well you do is far less important than the bravery and courage it takes to get up there and dance. Any jitters will vanish the moment the music begins. Congratulations to the participating middle schoolers from AVS and all the DancEsteem performers on a spectacular 29th-anniversary show.