Senior Anastasia Arrieta has loved singing, dancing and acting for as long as she can remember. Raised on artists such as ABBA, the Beatles, Silvio Rodríguez and Queen by her parents, Arrieta was introduced to dance and voice lessons at the age of five. Inspired by a friend, she began acting at Theatre360, an internationally recognized children’s theatre company, when she was nine and hasn’t stopped performing since.
Over the years, Arrieta has developed her passionate style through participating in musicals, plays, recitals and dance shows. She has also gotten the opportunity to participate in a singing competition called Spotlight, a nationally–recognized program for Southern California high school students, which she hopes to take part in again this year. She has even volunteered to coach Lower School students in singing to share her love for the performing arts with others.
At Poly, Arrieta participates in almost every single group centered around singing, dancing or acting. She has done every spring musical from the beginning of high school, playing Toffee in “Zombie Prom,” Ella in “Cinderella” and Sophie in “Mamma Mia!” She also participates in dance class, Dance Team, PASC, and is the co-president of the Vocal Ensemble and International Thespians Society. She seizes every opportunity to perform, even if it is simply singing for her family and friends.
Thanks to her kind personality and positive attitude, many people see Arrieta as someone they can turn to and look up to. Sophomore Amira Shamsi, someone who shared the stage with Arrieta during the Mamma Mia! musical, and Performing Arts teacher Eric Lifland both described Arrieta as a genuine leader and triple threat. Lifland said, “Poly Performing Arts has been lucky to have her leadership in so many musicals, dance shows, plays, and cabaret nights. Not only does Anastasia shine as a performer, she always uplifts all of her peers on stage, bringing positive energy to every rehearsal and show.”
Junior Sophie Converse, a friend of Arrieta, stated, “The whole time I’ve known her, Anastasia Arrieta has been so inspiring artistically. She is such a leader in the performing arts department. Her professionalism and talent are just so inspiring to anyone who watches her perform.”
When asked about her relationship with the arts, Arrieta responded, “My journey as an artist has been complex, to say the least, but over time, I’ve come to recognize the deeper value of art in fostering community. I’ve learned that at its core, art is about giving back.”
Arrieta was first inspired by a friend to start doing theater, but the person who has most driven her passion is her great-grandmother, Mira. Arrieta shared, “She finds so much joy in the little things in life, which has taught me to do the same, and that art specifically gives joy to so many people.” Her great-grandmother faced many hardships throughout her life, and Arrieta has taken inspiration from her resilience to strengthen her skills within the arts. Arrieta has also drawn inspiration from other people in her life for performances. For example, she noted her parents’ love for ABBA inspired her performance as Sophie in last year’s production of “Mamma Mia.”
Arrieta’s contributions to the arts program have been nothing short of giving her all. She is a key member of any theater piece Poly puts on as well as an essential member of the dance program and the varsity dance team. As the captain of the dance team, Arrieta has led with confidence and nurturing kindness to help build a community of dedicated dancers. While she favors jazz, she has experimented with various dance styles that have strengthened her technical skills and made her a versatile and valuable member of Poly’s dance program.
Arrieta found that she grew as an artist a lot this past summer by attending Interlochen Arts Camp. She stated, “It showed me what it was like to be around people that really love what they are doing.”
Next year, Arrieta hopes to attend a college where she can pursue her love for musical theater. She said, “It’s really stressful, but I’m really excited to see where it takes me. New York is the dream!” Aspiring to major in musical theater, Anastasia wants to integrate academics into her arts full time in college.
With all of her past experiences in mind, Arrieta wanted to remind the Poly community that people can get involved in art at any point in their high school career and in many different ways. “It’s never too late to start, and learning to appreciate art, even if you’re not involved in it first hand, is so incredibly important,” she said.
Whether rehearsing a piece in the dance studio or performing on the Garland stage, Arrieta brings authenticity and emotion to her craft. Her dedication to the Poly arts program affirms her clear talent and the emotion she puts into her roles and routines. Arrieta will leave a lasting legacy on our Poly community, and we have no doubt that she will inspire her peers wherever she goes next.