From Aztec Arts to USC: Palm Desert Senior Amaya D'Souza Celebrates $100,000 Dance Education
While many seniors are focused on graduation, Amaya D'Souza is taking time to highlight the unique value of the public arts education she received through the Aztec Arts Academy. Specifically, she noted that the specialized training offered through the school's dance program is worth an estimated $100,000 per dancer—a level of professional preparation provided entirely at no cost to the students.
NBC Palm Springs
Taking Center Stage: Local program helping aspiring dancers gain industry experience
“Step by step, a group of amateur dancers are learning what it takes to turn their passions into their professions.”
Broadway World Review
NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT @ Coachella Valley Rep
“When a successful theatre company presents a period musical they pray for a hit. With good actors, a witty script, great music, excellent direction, and clever choreography that can transport an entire audience back in time; Coachella Valley Repertory has compiled such a hit…”
Education Chat: Career Technical Education for High Schoolers
In the fourth episode of Education Chat’s fourth season, your host Natalie Hinton puts a focus on the Career and Technical Education programs being offered at select high schools in the Inland Empire. Natalie travels to Palm Desert High School to highlight the Aztec Arts Dance Academy CTE Program. She meets with Cristina McKeever, the director of CTE professional dance, to get a glimpse into what a day in the program as both an educator and a student looks like. High school seniors Victoria Thomas and Riley Hart share their first-hand experience as a student completing the program, and the episode is closed out by attending the final spring dance concert titled, “Elevate”.
Shoutout LA: Rising Stars
“Today we’d like to introduce you to Cristina McKeever.”
Voyage LA: Meet Cristina McKeever
“We had the good fortune of connecting with Cristina McKeever and we’ve shared our conversation below.”