Class of 2026 Senior Homecoming

By Staff Writers Amber Halvorsen & Aarav Vashisht

Vibrant red and gold clusters of balloons hovered over the amphitheater as the Class of 2026 kicked off their senior year Homecoming performance with an array of elaborate singing and dance performances. Complementing these exhilarating performances was their vivid backdrop and skit, each displaying elements from Disney’s Mulan. Radiant with energy,  the seniors showcased their lively class spirit, closing off Homecoming week with a truly mesmerizing and unforgettable performance.

With nine airbands in total, each airband was prefaced by the senior skit cast, who played characters from Mulan, with each member representing a different grade level at MSJ. The storyline depicted the struggles of senior students facing senioritis in their final year of high school while providing genuine advice to underclassmen. The show commenced with the singing airband, who ended with the beloved nostalgic track “Safe and Sound” by Capital Cities, followed by other prevalent songs, luring the audience with electrifying beats and ethereal harmonizing vocals.

Subsequently, Ballroom opened with the song “Falling For Ya” by Grace Phipps from Teen Beach Movie,. The dancers swayed  to the childhood classic  and  later closed off with more upbeat dances to Nicki Minaj and Rihanna. The K-pop airband started their energetic performance with the hit song “Gnarly” by adjective girl group Katseye, nailing the iconic choreography from the music video and receiving an eruption of applause from the audience in return. Later in the airband, the performers pulled out sunglasses from their pockets and danced to “Like JENNIE,” a viral song by Jennie Kim from BLACKPINK. The ballroom airband then enters the stage, dressed in formal suits and dresses, performing elegant partnered steps with one another. 

The boys boutin airband, in particular, was the highlight of the performance, arousing the crowd with comical, familiar dances such as the worm and TikTok dance crazes, prompting cheers and laughs throughout the airband. Afterward, the crowd was engulfed in excitement as they erupted in cheers for the long-awaited Bollywood airband performance, which was evidently the largest airband. Featuring intricate costume design changes and the use of chair props, their invigorating cultural performances hyped up the crowd. Their upbeat tempo and rhythmic dance remained consistent as the performers danced to well-known songs such as “Saki Saki” and “Ik Junoon (Paint it Red),” where participants enthusiastically chanted the phrase “paint it red” while dancing. From Hindi-English mixes to traditional Indian folk music, the song selection was diverse and varied. After their final dance, colorful confetti shot up into the air as all the performers from each airband clapped synchronously, collectively grouping up. The senior class’s signature cheer, “Wish you were a senior, Hoo Ha!” echoed across the school campus.

Receiving the honors of first place throughout the entire school for Homecoming thanks to their extensive decorations, dynamic dances, and singing performances, the Class of 2026 demonstrated their uplifting enthusiasm and spirit, delivering a gratifying ending to their final Homecoming week.

Voices

“The best part was probably the K-pop and the Bollywood [airbands]. They were really in sync. Overall, it was really hype. I liked that they had a lot of popular songs that everyone knew. [The most memorable part was] probably the Bollywood [airband], because I’ve never seen such a large group be really in sync, and they had really good coordination. I thought their fight scene was also pretty cool.” — Samantha Sheng, 11

“I could really see that they practiced thoroughly and they did an amazing job with synchronizing their moves. It was satisfying to watch 20–30 people move at once in the same direction. I think the diligent practices were really reflected in their performances. I think that’s what they did best, synchronizing with each other and practicing and making sure every little move was precise.” —Leina Ikeda, 10

“[The most memorable part]  was 100% their spirit, because everyone was so spirited. I’m really proud to be in [the senior class]. Their dances are really funny while being enjoyable.” — Nishant Rajmohan, 12