Choir director Adrian Rodriguez with the Austin High School Choir. • (Below) The 7th Period Dance Team was ‘Rockin Around the Christmas Tree.

Students Provided Multi-Cultural Holiday Extravaganza

The Bulldog Express came to life this holiday season at Austin High School on Wednesday, Dec. 3. The first “train” departed at 6:30 p.m and continued to depart every 10 minutes until 8:30 p.m. The 45-minute train ride went through over 13 performances on its way to the final performance in the auditorium by the AHS Choir – The Meaning of the Holidays. Other performances included:

• The Night before Christmas around the World: (Fine Arts): The ride started with a poem to kick off the evening and an Asian fan dance.
• Feliz Navidad: Spanish and French students explained their cultural traditions for the holiday season with an interactive activity.
• The Grinch: (Choir & Theater): A narrator gave a small synopsis of the famous story the Grinch while the choir sang popular Holiday songs.
• A White Christmas: (American Sign Language) : Signed the song “A White Christmas”
• Santa’s Workshop: (Choir): Holiday songs from a choir ensemble of elves in front of Santa’s workshop.
• Rock’ n around The Christmas Tree: (Freshman Dance Team and 7th Period Dance): Presented a Rockettes version of Rock ‘n Around the Christmas tree jazz dance.
• The Three Kings: (Muslim Student Association): An exhibit of the Three Kings and Tent
• Frosty The Snowman: (The National English Honor Society): Performed “Frosty the Snowman.”
• Hip Hop Holidays: (Enigma- the Hip Hop Club): Performing a Hip Hop routine to a mash up of holiday songs.

• A Seussified Christmas Carol: (Theater): Did a special performance of a Christmas carol Dr. Seuss style!
• The Nutcracker: (The AHS Band & Drum Line): Performed a hilarious performance of the Nutcracker dressed in tutus

The diversity in Austin High School’s classrooms provided a starting point for students to begin to understand and value the many distinct cultures of the world. This event incorporated a cultural view of holiday traditions from around the world. Besides provide a unbelievable evening for the patrons, the event will also make a difference in many lives during the holiday season, with over 2,000 canned goods (three times the goal!) donated to the Houston Food Band and over 100 toys donated to Toys for Tots.

Adrian Rodriguez, the choir director at Austin High School and the mastermind behind this event, said,”This whole concept began in late September as an opportunity for our students to more meaningfully engage in the arts. Rather than traditional expressions of our artistry like art galleries, dance recitals, or concerts, we aimed to provide a full exhibition were we, as a community, could provide a holistic experience for our audience members to interact with the performance setting. With the artistic vision of art faculty members, Nancy Dunlevy, Cayeleigh Drake, and Amanda Loos-Litteaur, we were able to transform the hallway into a winter wonderland. But the thread to the Bulldog Express was, above all, community.”

He added, “Over 25 clubs and organizations were involved in the success of our show and over 250 students contributed to 13 consecutive shows in a 2 ½ hour period. The Bulldog Express was an opportunity to showcase not only our school’s diversity in talents and cultures, but the many ways in which we — faculty, students, and wider community — can all come together for the greater good. The ability to transcend cultural, social, and political boundaries for the good of all — is what this holiday season is about - community.”

The 7th Period Dance Team was ‘Rockin Around the Christmas Tree.

A choir ensemble of elves performed holiday songs in front of Santa’s Workshop.

Austin High School’s “Bulldog Express”