Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts | 501 S. Sapodilla Ave, WPB, FL 33401

THE MUSE
BSU co-president and visual senior Taniyah Aris dances with strings senior Jaynald Obilas and theatre senior Sanai McCray while dancing at the block party.
Florida Vs. Flawda
Singing “Water” by South African singer-songwriter Tyla, Black Student Union (BSU) co-president and digital media senior Tyson Jimerson celebrates the first day of BSU spirit week by participating in field day.
BSU Field Day: A 2010’s Throwback
Leaning on Bob Kunst’s car, a sign saying, “Trump vs. Tramp” faces potential customers. Kunst is a local conservative activist in support of the Republican Party. The phrase on the sign references 2024 Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris as a “tramp,” a derogatory term for women suggesting promiscuous behavior.
Where the Red Tide Meets the Ocean Breeze
Playing on stage, Maximum Friction band member Jaden Garcia strums his guitar. Garcia started learning the guitar at the age of 9, and joined Jasmine Marchi’s band Maximum Friction in February of 2021. “I have played a wide variety of instruments, from bass to keyboard,” Garcia said. “I am able to play basic stuff on those other instruments, but my main (instruments I play) are guitar and drums.”
[BRIEF] Stars in the Spotlight: Student Runs Metal and Mayhem Concert Event
Applauding the other actors dancing around her, Oliver sits in the middle of the Black Box Theater during the musical piece “Gaston” from the musical “Beauty and the Beast.”
[BRIEF] Broadway Backwards: Ballads for a Cause
Closing her eyes as she performs, communications sophomore Carly Cantor sings the song “Climbing Up the Walls” by Radiohead.
[BRIEF] Coffee and Creations
Playing on stage, Maximum Friction band member Jaden Garcia strums his guitar. Garcia started learning the guitar at the age of 9, and joined Jasmine Marchi’s band Maximum Friction in February of 2021. “I have played a wide variety of instruments, from bass to keyboard,” Garcia said. “I am able to play basic stuff on those other instruments, but my main (instruments I play) are guitar and drums.”
[BRIEF] Stars in the Spotlight: Student Runs Metal and Mayhem Concert Event
Applauding the other actors dancing around her, Oliver sits in the middle of the Black Box Theater during the musical piece “Gaston” from the musical “Beauty and the Beast.”
[BRIEF] Broadway Backwards: Ballads for a Cause
Closing her eyes as she performs, communications sophomore Carly Cantor sings the song “Climbing Up the Walls” by Radiohead.
[BRIEF] Coffee and Creations
This piece, titled “Transience,” features two separate paintings with strings of beads connecting the two into a singular piece.
[BRIEF] “Threads of Time” Gallery Opened for Display
Chemistry teacher Anushka Larkin was educationally affected by Hurricane Milton. Several of her students grades fell during the break.
Missed Days of School Impact Teachers’ Lesson Plans
Photo courtesy of communications senior David Sanchez taken in Wellington, FL.
Students and Their Communities Impacted by Hurricane Milton
Playing on stage, Maximum Friction band member Jaden Garcia strums his guitar. Garcia started learning the guitar at the age of 9, and joined Jasmine Marchi’s band Maximum Friction in February of 2021. “I have played a wide variety of instruments, from bass to keyboard,” Garcia said. “I am able to play basic stuff on those other instruments, but my main (instruments I play) are guitar and drums.”
[BRIEF] Stars in the Spotlight: Student Runs Metal and Mayhem Concert Event
Visual senior Thomas Diaz shows Principal Blake Bennett around the art gallery where his pieces are being displayed. Principal Bennett visited the gallery Jan. 10 during lunch along with other guests, including his friends, teachers, and administration. “I went on Monday after school when his whole family came to the exhibit and I got to meet his grandmother, who is pictured in many of the paintings, and that was really special,” Principal Bennett said. “To see her next to the paintings, he is so spot on, and I am so proud of that.”
‘A Romanticism of the Mundane’
Engaging in conversation, speech and debate coach and communications teacher Angela Anyzeski, talks to her students about debate-related opportunities. This was Mrs. Anyzeski’s 26th year teaching at Dreyfoos.
Beyond The Podium
Holding a position en pointe, dance juniors and seniors perform “Snow” in the final number of the Winter Arts Medley. During the piece, a simulated snowfall took place in Meyer Hall.
Multi-Major Medley
Band director Evan Rogovin swiftly moves his arms as he conducts a piece. This piece was the fourth composition of the night, titled “C’est Noel,” which was performed by the symphonic orchestra.
We Are Lights: Reflecting on Prism
This piece, titled “Transience,” features two separate paintings with strings of beads connecting the two into a singular piece.
[BRIEF] “Threads of Time” Gallery Opened for Display
The science fair participants stand together in a posed photo. From left to right: vocal sophomore Raina Caballero, piano freshman Joanne Choi, strings senior Jeffrey Bai, piano sophomore Rishi Iyer, and communications sophomore Reya Chennath. Photo courtesy of Joanne Choi
It’s Not Rocket Science
Visual senior Edluckens Augusme models his clothing brand, Rockout Studios.
A Pattern of Perseverance
Visual senior Thomas Diaz shows Principal Blake Bennett around the art gallery where his pieces are being displayed. Principal Bennett visited the gallery Jan. 10 during lunch along with other guests, including his friends, teachers, and administration. “I went on Monday after school when his whole family came to the exhibit and I got to meet his grandmother, who is pictured in many of the paintings, and that was really special,” Principal Bennett said. “To see her next to the paintings, he is so spot on, and I am so proud of that.”
‘A Romanticism of the Mundane’
Engaging in conversation, speech and debate coach and communications teacher Angela Anyzeski, talks to her students about debate-related opportunities. This was Mrs. Anyzeski’s 26th year teaching at Dreyfoos.
Beyond The Podium
Michael Feuerborn and his family stand in front of their home. After receiving GoFundMe donations, the Feuerborns could repay their missed rent and secure another lease on the home. Michael said that the money they raised “guaranteed a roof over our head(s)."
Hope Reborn for the Feuerborns
Anticipating the ball, visual junior Tora Cooper stands on the court in front of a crowd of students and parents. “My favorite part of being on the team is having a community that is always supportive of one another,” Cooper said. (Photo courtesy of Lotta Cooper)
‘Setting’ Up For Success
BSU co-president and visual senior Taniyah Aris dances with strings senior Jaynald Obilas and theatre senior Sanai McCray while dancing at the block party.
Florida Vs. Flawda
Taking photos of the BSU co-presidents, BSU co-historian and visual senior Stephanie Taffe wears butterfly clips in her hair. BSU members wore their hair in styles reminiscent of hairstyles from their childhood.
Hair-itage
Black Student Union (BSU) members hosted a Game Day for their Spirit Week in the Media Center Feb. 11. Students played various board and card games such as UNO, Jenga, and Connect Four.
It’s Their Turn: BSU Hosts Game Day
Singing “Water” by South African singer-songwriter Tyla, Black Student Union (BSU) co-president and digital media senior Tyson Jimerson celebrates the first day of BSU spirit week by participating in field day.
BSU Field Day: A 2010’s Throwback
Playing on stage, Maximum Friction band member Jaden Garcia strums his guitar. Garcia started learning the guitar at the age of 9, and joined Jasmine Marchi’s band Maximum Friction in February of 2021. “I have played a wide variety of instruments, from bass to keyboard,” Garcia said. “I am able to play basic stuff on those other instruments, but my main (instruments I play) are guitar and drums.”
[BRIEF] Stars in the Spotlight: Student Runs Metal and Mayhem Concert Event
Looking out into the crowd, theatre freshman Devin Jackson sings "I Know Where I've Been" from the musical “Hairspray” during the 2025 biannual Black Student Union (BSU) showcase. This year’s showcase theme was “Roots and Rhythms: The Story of Us” and included theatre monologues, traditional dances, and culturally significant songs to commemorate the beginning of Black History Month.
Trials, Triumphs, and Tributes
Photo courtesy of Tribune
Why Some Movies Last Forever
A photo illustration of Griffin Petti surrounded by parental consent forms.
The Wrongs of Parental Rights
Professor AI
Professor AI
This depicts two t-shirts and a sweatshirt sold by SHEIN and manufactured in China. In order for SHEIN to keep up with fast moving trends, 35,000 to 100,000 items are produced daily, according to Design Life Cycle, releasing 6.3 million tons of carbon dioxide every year.
Behind The Seams
Photo illustration of two hands representing rock and scissors.
[SATIRE] How To Win Rock, Paper, Scissors
Photo by Sofia Hennessey-Correa
[SATIRE] The Muse’s Guide to Last Minute Spirit Week Outfits
Strings senior William Tong and other boys basketball team members cheer on the girls basketball team after a three-point shot was made during the second quarter. The boys team played their first home game against SLAM! Palm Beach (Sports Leadership and Management) following the girls game.
Welcome to the Jungle
Anticipating the ball, visual junior Tora Cooper stands on the court in front of a crowd of students and parents. “My favorite part of being on the team is having a community that is always supportive of one another,” Cooper said. (Photo courtesy of Lotta Cooper)
‘Setting’ Up For Success
Preparing to enter the field, number 15 and communications senior John Markee watches his teammates from the sidelines. On Friday, Sept. 20, the Forest Hill High School varsity football team played in their fourth game of the season, ending in a loss despite winning their first three games.
Jaguars on Forest Hill Boulevard
Dreyfoos on Ice
Dreyfoos on Ice
Watching the boys soccer team prep, French Teacher Mr. Ruth prepares the team for their upcoming games.
The Faces Behind The Teams
[BRIEF] Boys Basketball Wins Close Game
[BRIEF] Boys Basketball Wins Close Game
Photo courtesy of Tribune
Why Some Movies Last Forever
Photo courtesy of Pix4free
All I Want for Christmas: A Holiday Gift Guide
Nestled behind trees, the storefront of Maman in the Square, located at 473 S Rosemary Ave.
Not Your Maman’s Coffee
Yelling into his microphone, country musician Noah Hunton performs at SunFest as part of his mini south-Floridian tour, across venues from West Palm Beach to Key West.
Tuning Up SunFest
Nelly performs at SunFest 2024.
The Appeal of SunFest
Image courtesy of Taylor Swift
Give ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ Another Listen
Muse Talks: Backstage Access
Muse Talks: Backstage Access
Musele: 2/17/2025
Power forward and communications senior Shailee Patel, girls basketball captain and theatre senior Guilabreah Pacheco, and Small forward and band senior Kayla Burgess, girls basketball captain and theatre senior Guilbrhea Pacheco, and power forward and communications senior Shailee Patel (pictured left to right) attempt to pose for a “JCPenney” photo, which is typically a family portrait with seemingly awkward poses. Although they do not always see one another during school hours, the team comes together when on the court.
Girls Basketball Team Plays “Who’s Most Likely To”
4x4 Visual and Digital Senior Portfolios
4×4 Visual and Digital Senior Portfolios
Musele: 2/10/2025
Musele: 2/10/2025
Tracing around glass singing bowls, a volunteer for the second annual Mental Health Expo attempts to calm the students lying on yoga mats surrounding her.
More than a Mindset
Dancing to the song “Flex” by Cupid, digital media freshman Sophie Jones and other students participate in the Black Student Union (BSU) field day on Feb. 10. BSU Spirit Week is an annual event that allows students to celebrate Black History Month through music, dance, and other activities. “Music unites everybody in the club because we all know a bunch of songs from growing up, so once we hear a song that we recognize, (we) all come together,” Jones said.
Photo of the Week 2/10
Holding an en pointe position, dance juniors (from left to right) Arielle Montpeirous, Lexi Gibson, Bianca Vasilescu, and Mackenna Bernard perform a ballet routine for the Black Student Union (BSU) showcase, which took place Feb. 4 in Meyer Hall. The dance was accompanied by band freshman Xachary Charles, who played the snare drum during the performance. “I loved getting to watch all my friends perform their art areas and seeing all the talent from different majors,” said Gibson. “I think it connects back to a lot of history and has helped pave the way for us now.”
Photo of the Week 2/4
Pointing out to the audience, theatre senior Katherine Oliver executes the song “Gaston” with the rest of the actors during the Broadway Backwards show. Broadway Backwards was performed in the Black Box Theater during lunch on Jan. 31 where female actors performed as male characters and vice versa during presentations of Broadway plays and musicals. The actors had to audition to get into the performance and were from all grade levels.
Photo of the Week 1/31
Sitting on the gymnasium floor, theatre senior Rikki Crossland colors on a poster that reads, “Spread Kindness like Confetti,” with other students during the second annual Mental Health Expo, which took place Jan. 24. This lunchtime event, organized by junior class council members piano junior Karen Zhao and theatre junior Juliet Rojas, included activities such as coloring, drumming, and yoga to spread awareness about mental health. The event also included tables representing various organizations in the health field, where students could talk to professionals to learn more about mental health. “I’ve really enjoyed getting to know all of the organizations and all of the representatives of each activity group,” Rojas said. “I definitely have heard a lot of good feedback from students. It is a very enjoyable experience, and I can’t wait to do it again next year.”
Photo of the Week 1/24
Theatre juniors Darien Batista and Andrea Mora "hit pause" on an improvisation scene in the Jan. 17 Hairy Details show, causing theatre sophomore Richard Moore to stop his performance while the two discuss the scene in character. Acting as a movie producer and a talk show host during their improvisation game, Batista and Mora narrate scenes of a "movie" while accompanying performers, such as Moore, who portray what Batista and Mora describe. “Sometimes when the shows don’t land on a specific holiday, we don’t have a theme,” Mora said. “But this show, our presidents decided to have the theme as movies and T.V. shows, hence our t-shirts.”
Photo of the Week 1/17
Speaking with Principal Blake Bennett, visual senior Thomas Diaz explains the meaning behind his artwork. On Jan. 10 during lunch, Diaz had his art pieces exhibited in a solo show in the Building 9 gallery in recognition of his creations throughout the year. “It makes me feel very proud of myself because I work really hard, long hours after school,” Diaz said. “It also makes me inspired and hopeful that other people would do the same and want to show their own work. I think there's a lot of very amazing artists in the department that would really benefit from doing a show like this. It really just makes me feel connected to the community.”
Photo of the Week 1/10
  • NO SCHOOL: Feb. 24
  • Metamorphoses Opening Night at 6:30 p.m. in Myer Hall: Feb. 21
  • Spanish Honor Society Induction Ceremony During Lunch: Feb. 21
  • Metamorphoses - Spring Play Preview at 6:30 p.m.: Feb. 20
  • Tennis Match at 4:00 p.m.: Feb. 20
  • Track Meet at 4:00 p.m.: Feb. 20
  • Piano K2 Recital at 6:00 p.m. in the Black Box: Feb. 19
  • SAC meeting at 5:30 p.m.: Feb. 18
  • Tennis Match at 4:00 p.m.: Feb. 18
Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts | 501 S. Sapodilla Ave, WPB, FL 33401

THE MUSE
Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts | 501 S. Sapodilla Ave, WPB, FL 33401

THE MUSE
Valentina Saenz-Daza

Valentina Saenz-Daza, Photo Staffer

Valentina Saenz-Daza is a first-year staffer and photo staffer on The Muse. She is described as confident, outgoing, and reliable by her friends. Valentina loves dance, chocolate, the color pink, and Taylor Swift’s music. This year, she can’t wait to cover all the exciting events Dreyfoos has to offer.
All content by Valentina Saenz-Daza
Dancing to the song “Flex” by Cupid, digital media freshman Sophie Jones and other students participate in the Black Student Union (BSU) field day on Feb. 10. BSU Spirit Week is an annual event that allows students to celebrate Black History Month through music, dance, and other activities. “Music unites everybody in the club because we all know a bunch of songs from growing up, so once we hear a song that we recognize, (we) all come together,” Jones said.

Photo of the Week 2/10

Valentina Saenz-Daza, Photographer
February 17, 2025
Visual senior Thomas Diaz shows Principal Blake Bennett around the art gallery where his pieces are being displayed. Principal Bennett visited the gallery Jan. 10 during lunch along with other guests, including his friends, teachers, and administration. “I went on Monday after school when his whole family came to the exhibit and I got to meet his grandmother, who is pictured in many of the paintings, and that was really special,” Principal Bennett said. “To see her next to the paintings, he is so spot on, and I am so proud of that.”

[Photo] ‘A Romanticism of the Mundane’

Giselle Fernandez-Perez, Writer
January 23, 2025
Speaking with Principal Blake Bennett, visual senior Thomas Diaz explains the meaning behind his artwork. On Jan. 10 during lunch, Diaz had his art pieces exhibited in a solo show in the Building 9 gallery in recognition of his creations throughout the year. “It makes me feel very proud of myself because I work really hard, long hours after school,” Diaz said. “It also makes me inspired and hopeful that other people would do the same and want to show their own work. I think there's a lot of very amazing artists in the department that would really benefit from doing a show like this. It really just makes me feel connected to the community.”

Photo of the Week 1/10

Valentina Saenz-Daza, Photographer
January 14, 2025
Bringing Christmas to South Florida: On Nov 2. The Ben Marriott Autograph Collection opened South Florida's first outdoor skating rink. From the hotel's top floor, there is a view of the hundreds of people who visit throughout the day to participate in this winter activity.

[Photo] West Palm’s Winter Wonderland

Milo Stamp, Writer
December 8, 2024
Smiling at her students, English teacher Carmen Gallardo hosts a class discussion about the AP exam. It is one part of the routine that Ms. Gallardo has to ensure that students learn and understand the subject matter. “She gives us a schedule at the beginning of every quarter that breaks down what we're going to do each class.” strings junior Kayci Estelle said. “I think her sticking to such a regimen not only reflects her navy training but who she is as a person.”

[Photo] A Salute to Veterans

Milo Stamp, Writer
November 13, 2024
Looking at the phlebotomist, dance junior Finleigh Townsend gets blood drawn for her first time. On Oct. 16, National Honor Society (NHS) held its blood drive in the school parking lot. Oneblood Donation and its Big Red Bus visited the school campus to find volunteers for blood and plasma donations. Their mission is to replenish and maintain a healthy blood supply in the community. “It makes you feel really good to have had an impact on so many people by doing something that didn't take much time and didn't hurt me at all,” said Townsend.

Photo of the Week 10/16

Valentina Saenz-Daza, Photographer
October 19, 2024
Dancing together in the Brandt Black Box Theater, the “Drowsy Chaperone” cast members practice their routines. This production incorporates numerous dance numbers with the entire cast. “There are so many of us in the cast, (so) it's important for all the dancing to look very specific and sharp,” ensemble member and theatre senior Erin Duran said.

[Photo] Bringing a Show to Life

Milo Stamp, Writer
October 17, 2024
Adjusting her poster of the theater department from Boca Raton High School, musical theatre teacher Stephanie Nixdorf wants to approach her new position at Dreyfoos by embracing what she already knows. With previous theatre teaching experience from LeMoyne College, Suncoast Community High School, and Boca Raton High School, Ms. Nixdorf has had a life dedicated to supporting and coaching the arts. “I just think that having these classes and being able to work with these kids (...) is really enjoyable because the work we do in the classroom, the work we do on these smaller pieces of repertoire, will really help them grow.”

[Photo] Theatre Department Gets a Fresh Face

Milo Stamp, Writer
September 12, 2024
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