A Behind the Scenes Look at the ‘Epic Adventure’ of the Homecoming Halftime Show

Ruhi Samudra and Shaina Taebi | September 25, 2023 | 276 Views

Senior class council practices their halftime show dance on the evening of Sept. 20. The builds seen in the background are a new concept, according to ASB adviser Kate Avery. “I will say none of the work is easy, but what was helpful is we have people like our senior president and VP and our junior President and VP,” Avery said. “They were all in ASB last year, and so they kind of understood what the expectation was, what the builds should look like and what we need going into them.”

In preparation for the Homecoming football game on Sept. 22 and the dance on Sept. 23, ASB and class council members choreographed dances, made boards for the performance and decorated corners of the school to represent each grade and the overarching theme, Epic Adventures. With Homecoming being in late September rather than mid-October, students and staff were required to spend additional time beyond school to meet their strict deadlines.

The Homecoming process started with theme ideas in May of the previous school year, according to ASB adviser Kate Avery. ASB began planning over the summer and finalizing in September with consistent ASB and class council meetings.

“Honestly, I’m excited, I’m ready to go,” junior president Mahat Chandra said. “We’re all in that last stretch to try to finish through, to make sure we can close it out with a bang. Obviously our halftime show has always been great through all our years that we’re trying to top each year, so hopefully we can do that this year.”

Selected choreographers for each grade were expected to meet before the week of Homecoming to plan out their performances. Then, class councils came together during the final week to practice and perfect their routines.

“For me [the most difficult part] would be choreographing, but in general, it’s the deadline because Homecoming is so early this year,” senior Homecoming Dance Chair and student council member Smira Sonthalia said. “Getting everything done feels very quick, and I don’t think we had enough time or it feels like we don’t have enough time, but everything’s finally coming together.”

Additionally, the idea of creating physical decorations for the campus is a relatively new idea and was first implemented last year, according to Avery.

“It was trial and error last year, but this year I’d like to say this is our first year being fully committed to it,” junior president Mahat Chandra said. “Our sections look pretty good. It’s a newer idea and I’d like to say that we will be able to continue it, hoping that it does raise a lot of eyebrows.”

Avery said she trusts ASB’s capabilities and is hopeful about this year’s show.

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About the Contributors

Ruhi Samudra, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Ruhi Samudra is an Editor-in-Chief for her third and final year on the Portola Pilot. She’s looking forward to being her best social butterfly self this year and getting to know all sorts of people on campus. When she’s not debating over which juicy quote best ends off an article, you can find creating bouquets out of Trader Joe’s flowers, listening to the Magic Happens Parade soundtrack on repeat or investing her entire life into memoirs just to avoid accepting her own bewilderment.

Shaina Taebi, Backpage Editor

Shaina Taebi is the Backpage Editor for her third year in the Portola Pilot. For her final year she is excited to spend class time drawing more editorial cartoons and hopefully writing some interesting stories. Beyond the classroom she is most likely rewatching Hearstopper, screaming along to a Harry Styles song, or getting a headache from oil paint fumes.