A Wizard’s Path: Gianna Perez

Washingtonville High School senior Gianna Perez knows how to step up — on stage, in the classroom and for the people around her.

As one of the captains of the high school’s Steppers Club, Gianna helps lead a group that turns stomps, claps and full-body percussion into a choreographed dance routine and musical performance without any instruments. 

“It’s a very big community,” she said. “We teach different types of stepping – making sounds with your body, stomping, clapping – and then we piece it all together for performances.”

This year, the Steppers have performed at both girls and boys basketball games, with additional shows planned, including a Black History Month performance and a spring showcase.

Stepping combines many of Gianna’s favorite things. It gives her the opportunity to dance, lead, perform and spend time with the people she loves. 

After missing out on many middle school activities during COVID, she was eager to rejoin the activity she loved once she reached high school.

“I did it in elementary school and really loved it,” she said. “So when I saw it was a thing in high school, I joined again with my sister and my friends, and we just kept going.”

One of the things Gianna values most about the club is its accessibility.

“It’s open to anyone who wants to join,” she said. “There aren’t auditions – you just have to be willing to put in the work.”

That sense of belonging carries into another major part of her high school life: the WHS Masque & Mime program.

Gianna will take the stage March 5–7 in this year’s production of Legally Blonde: The Musical, playing Kate, one of Elle Woods’ sorority sisters, while also serving as a featured dancer in the show. Auditions began in November, and they’ve hit the ground running ever since. 

“It’s magical how we’re able to put this stuff together,” she said. “We’re there almost every day for four or five hours, working together. It’s such a big show, and just seeing it all come to life is really cool.”

Tickets for Legally Blonde: The Musical are available now, click here to purchase. 

Her love for theater began early, inspired by watching her cousins’ shows. Since elementary school, she has taken part in both school and community productions, with roles in The Addams Family, Mamma Mia, Spelling Bee and more.

And while dancing is a big part of what Gianna looks for in a role, it’s not the only thing that has kept her coming back to the stage each year. 

“I really like the community it brings,” she explained. “It teaches you how to work in a team, not just follow the script, but collaborate. ‘How do we want this to look? Should we tweak this? How do we make it better?’”

Her instinct to collaborate, ask questions and improve systems shows up in the classroom as well.

Gianna’s senior schedule is filled with college-level and Advanced Placement courses, including SUPA English, SUPA Public Affairs, AP Calculus and college statistics. In her Public Affairs class, she and her peers are developing a proposal for a new senior course focused on life after high school – covering topics like college applications, financial aid and practical life skills.

“We’re trying to create something to help other seniors who feel unprepared for what’s next,” she said. “But it’s not as simple as it sounds. There’s research, conversations with guidance counselors, a full proposal process. You really have to focus on what the problem is and then build a solution.”

Identifying challenges and working toward solutions is part of Gianna’s nature. It’s also perfectly aligned with her future plans. 

Gianna will attend Florida Atlantic University this fall as a pre-med neuroscience major. While she does not envision a traditional clinical path, she hopes to pursue a career in research, particularly in the field of lesser known neurological disorders.

Her motivation is deeply personal. One of her cousins was born with a serious spinal condition and was not expected to live past the age of two. After receiving treatment abroad, she is now 13.

“I’ve seen all the struggles she’s gone through,” Gianna said. “I really want to focus on trying to find something that could help other people and help other kids. There’s still so much we don’t know, and I want to figure some of that out.”

It’s an ambitious goal, but Gianna has long been driven by her own standards.

“I’ve kind of always had my pre-med dreams planned out,” she said. “I want to succeed for myself. I want to feel good knowing I’m putting in the work now to do good in the future.”

Balancing academics, leadership roles, rehearsals and friendships hasn’t always been easy, but it’s something she’s especially proud of.

“I’m most proud of being able to experience so much while keeping my grades up,” Gianna said. “Having a really good overall high school experience and balancing everything together.”

She credits her close-knit group of friends — many of whom she’s shared classes with since freshman year — for helping make that possible.

“We all have the same motives,” she explained. “We’re all good students, so when we work together, it’s productive.” 

As senior year continues, Gianna is looking forward to all the classic traditions ahead – field day, the senior barbecue, senior assassin — while also trying to stay present.

“I’m really just trying to live more in the moment,” she said. “I know I’m going to miss it.”

From gym floors to stages and soon-to-be science labs, Gianna continues to step forward with passion, pride and purpose as she prepares for her next adventure after Washingtonville High School.