Aliyah Nora, every now and then, likes to be somebody else.

The 11th grader at Spring High School, and member of that school’s theater program, first got interested in the performing arts when she was younger, after seeing “Beauty and the Beast” with her grandma.

“I didn’t really want to go at first,” Nora said. “But then I saw it and I was just entranced. It was really cool and I knew I needed to do that.”

Ever since then – and most recently as The Narrator in her school’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” – she has found a place in theater, an outlet that lets her express her feelings as someone else.

“I like to feel like I am not myself. I know that sounds weird,” she said. “Sometimes, being yourself is kind of hard, living in your own head. It’s nice to let go of all that and just express yourself through a character.”

Moments later, Nora was able to do just that, as she performed with The Lion Players Theatre Company, as part of Springfest, a festival dedicated to the performing and visual arts and the work of students from across the district.

“Spring ISD has a long tradition of excellence in the performing and visual arts,” Dr. Joe Clark, Director of Performing and Visual Arts, said. “Springfest allows us to share that with the community. This festival lets us showcase the incredible artists in this district, and to let them know that their hard work and dedication matters.”

The festival, which took place Tuesday evening at Planet Ford Stadium, attracted nearly 2000 people to take part in interactive art activities, balloon-animal making, community mural projects, and more. It also featured performances from jazz bands, folklorico dancers, theater programs, elementary choirs, and much more. In addition, the visual arts were highlighted inside the Randall Reed Center.

For students like Bethany Bishop, a senior at Spring High School who is headed to study theater and performing arts at Oklahoma City University, an event like Springfest is a reminder that her hard work is valued in Spring ISD.

“Sometimes, theater doesn’t get the recognition it deserves,” Bishop said. “We put so much work in, six days a week, eight hours a day sometimes. I like that events like this acknowledges us and lets us know that people recognize that hard work.”

Attendees were also able to vote for Best In Show awards of the artworks and performances on display. The winners of the 2022 Springfest Best in Show Awards are below.

• Victoria Bateman, 12th Grade, Spring High School – Photography
• Kenia Benitez, 2nd Grade, Booker Elementary School – 2D
• Karla Caldera, Kindergarten, Clark Primary Elementary School – 2D
• Neidy Carias, 9th Grade, Wunsche High School – Mixed Media
• Yaslin Cinco, 7th Grade, Roberson Middle School – 2D
• Michael DeBusk, 6th Grade, Springwoods Village Middle School – 2D
• Dana Frias, 5th Grade, Booker Elementary School – 2D
• Princess Gould, 11th Grade, Dekaney High School – Electronic Media
• Paula Izquerdo, 10th Grade, Spring High School – 3D
• Grace Lara, 8th Grade, Roberson Middle School – 3D
• Kelly Lopez, 12th Grade, Dekaney High School – Painting
• Destiny Martinez, 1st Grade, Clark Primary Elementary School – 3D
• Isaac Onate, 7th Grade, Twin Creeks Middle School – Photography
• Matthew Parra, 3rd Grade, Booker Elementary School – 2D
• Lam Pham, 8th Grade, Roberson Middle School – 2D
• Evadny Plata, 4th Grade, Beneke Elementary School – 2D
• Darling Romero, 10th Grade, Early College Academy – Art I
• Angee Sanchez, 1st Grade, Eickenroht Elementary School – 2D
• Kaiden Simoneaux, Pre-K, Clark Primary Elementary School – 2D
• Elizabeth Vega, 8th Grade, Roberson Middle School – Electronic Media
• Jaleel Williams-Toney, 11th Grade, Dekaney High School – Drawing