![Held up by a group of cheerleaders, flyer sophomore Leyu Yonas poses as part of a stunt, also supported by flyer junior Shayne Mitchell behind her. (Left) Prior to the pink out football game on Oct. 13, the athletes practiced in the aux gym from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Right) On Oct. 19, the cheerleaders competed in their District Championships at Woodgrove High School. “We definitely put all our effort on the mat [at Districts], and it showed,” Mitchell said. Left: Photo by Nadia Shirr. Right: Photo by Steve Prakope via Victor O’Neill Studios.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/feature-image-1200x823.png)
![Sophomore Xavier Smith (6), the Phoenix quarterback, runs the ball as his teammates help hold up the defense. “My [offensive] line collapses, so I just [have to run], and its a good way to get first downs because [Tuscarora’s] defense was really good,” Smith said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_5383-1200x897.jpg)
![As the referee throws the ball up for the tip-off, freshman Simone Diby leaps towards the ball to get it in Phoenix possession. Diby is a new member of the Phoenix girls basketball team, and despite it being a change, she finds it enjoyable. “It’s definitely a different experience if you’ve never played on a team, [but] I think it’s still fun.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DSC_0057-1200x662.jpg)
![With the energy and effort the Bolts were bringing to the game, the Phoenix had to step up and match them to make it through their first game of the season. Many of the girls on the team, including freshman Nazly Rostom, have been playing soccer since their childhood and have grown a love for the sport as a result. “It was fun to see how we actually played in a [real] game,” Rostom said. “Even though the outcome was not what we were hoping for, I’m still happy we got to play together.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DSC_0154-1200x800.jpg)
![After waiting, planning, and preparing for two years, Rock Ridge Performing Arts (RPPA) finally performed “Frozen,” a musical about two sisters — one human and one with powers –who face adversity together in order to protect each other. The first show was performed on Friday, April 26.
“Frozen” was highly anticipated by students, and for good reason. The “Frozen” movie was one of the most successful animated Disney films and had a lasting impact on younger audiences when it came out.
Due to its sheer popularity, the rights to perform “Frozen” as a musical are extremely difficult to attain, and only one school in each state gets the chance to do so per year. “There was a competition called ‘Fifty States of Frozen,’ and we submitted an application two years ago,” Anthony Cimino-Johnson, the director of RRPA, said. “We were accepted as the only school in Virginia to do the musical. [We had to include] set design, how many students, how many performances, [and] photos from previous productions. It was a competitive process.”
The cast and crew of “Frozen” acknowledged the privilege they had to be able to perform the musical. “It’s actually pretty cool to have permission for ‘Frozen,’” freshman Divitha Mathe, a background actress in the musical, said. “We have [one of] the biggest theater programs and we have been preparing for ‘Frozen’ for a long time. There is a really beautiful set and the costumes are so pretty. The actors and tech crew are doing an amazing job. If I would want to shout out to anyone, it would be Mr. CJ and Mrs. Hess because they are really pulling the show together, and I am glad to have them as my teachers.”
“Frozen” is still being performed today and tomorrow at Rock Ridge!
Click the link in our bio to learn more about RRPA’s “Frozen” production!
✏️ & 📷 by Ria Athreya, Rachel Bhardwaj, and Aline Gonzalez](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
American-Japanese singer and songwriter Mitski is no stranger to emotional albums. “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We (TLIIASAW),” her seventh studio album, focuses on the American and delivers a pseudo-country album with a softer feel than what fans may be used to. Mitski directly stated this new album is her “most American album,” to date, further supported by the recording studio being located in Nashville, an iconic American city well known for its music.
Focusing on the aspects of love within the album, there are many tracks that hone directly into the emotion. Most prevalent and obvious is “My Love All Mine,” in which we hear the graceful chorus, “‘Cause my love is mine, all mine — nothing in this world belongs to me but my love.” With a beautiful instrumental to pair with sweet, heartfelt lyrics, the production by Patrick Hyland not only matches the emotional level of the lyrics, but also keeps the country feel to the track. When it comes to “I Love Me After You,” Mitski reminds us that love isn’t always happy, and how moving forward alone after a relationship is a high-powered experience. Shown through the lyrics, “How I love me after you,” Mitski describes how love has been placed within herself rather than the “you” described in this song, as well as, “King of all the land; I’m king of all the land,” representing the gratifying feeling of moving forward with oneself and finding peace.
The project as a whole further shows Mitski’s talent as not just a singer, but a writer as well. This shines strong on tracks like “The Deal,” a complex story about realizing that in order to feel the highs of happiness, one must experience the lows of sadness in their life as well. This message is communicated beautifully through the image of a late-night walk, paired with a talking bird, in which the deal is made, which causes the realization.
This album, while sounding melancholic and somber, shines stronger than Mitski’s last release, “Laurel Hell.” With tracks lined with story and emotion, paired with the beautiful choral and orchestral accompaniment to Mitskis vocals on each track, this project is well-deserving of an 8.5/10.
“The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We” is available to stream on all listening platforms.
