There could not have been a more fitting tribute to a dance teacher than the vibrant, polished and joyful show the Napa High School dancers presented last weekend at the District Auditorium.

The show, titled “We Dance For Mrs. V.,” continues with two performances Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.

“Mrs. V.” is Kris Van Treese, who helped build the school’s dance program into one of the best in the state;  more than 400 students are involved in this energetic and inclusive program. One of the most impressive elements of the show — aside from the spectacular dancing — was seeing that special needs students are clearly welcome to share the stage. The message, strong and clear, is everyone can dance.

Before her death from a rare encephalitis infection last February  Van Treese was the first non-Hispanic woman in California to be awarded a Cesar Chavez award for her work with Latino students — whose talents clearly enrich the department. The exhilarating routines performed by the Latin Rhythm Dancers were standouts, but in a school where students often say there are two schools within the school, one Latino and one Caucasian, what was truly outstanding was to see the stage filled with a mix of students, all dancing.

Despite the loss of her friend, colleague and mainstay of the two-person dance department, director Hollie Schmidt continued not only with the  dance classes, but with the end of the year program that showcases the students’ work, from the beginning Jazz 1 dancers to the accomplished and technically sophisticated Jazz IV. All in all, they presented 28 routines, in a flawless program, that moved swiftly and energetically from one act to the next.

Schmidt noted, however, she couldn’t have done it without help from alumni, who returned to help out. Napa graduates Aurelio Delgado, Ruben Ochoa and Chris Ho stepped in to take over Van Treese’s break dance classes; Shanti Hernandez, Makayla Harrison, Jessie Spangler, Christina Frost, Nacho Delgado, Natalie Hading, Mary Anne Schaffer and Rosa Aguayo were among those who helped make the program possible, Schmidt said.

Van Treese’s spirit was clearly present throughout the show, from the opening number, “Dedicated to My Mom,” with Jazz III and IV officers dancing to music by Blake Van Treese, and concluding with “One Sweet Day,” in which Schmidt joined the young dancers on stage, adding her own tribute and farewell to a friend, who died too soon.

Also terrific was the rap tribute, written by Ruben Ochoa, a Napa graduate who returned to perform it against the backdrop of the amazing Breakers, the hip-hop break dance group.

While the tributes were all heartfelt, there was not a mournful note in the show; for the most part it concentrated on fantastic dancing, choreographed by Schmidt and her helpers. The routines comprised a dazzling array, from the sublimely witty “Mozart,” in which the national awardwinning Spirit Leaders performed to “Eine Klein Nacht Musik.” to the first year dancers’ “Technologic,” equally inventive and full of promise.

The Breakers “Hyphe Mix” and “Love Mix” and “Changes” were spectacular, as was “Mas Qu Nada,” and “Pegate,” performed by the Latin Rhythms dancers.

We regret we can’t list all the names of the dancers — but it’s another tribute to the program that the list of students who participate in this program is extremely long. But for anyone who wants to see the value to students of supporting arts programs like this one, the show is not only an entirely pleasurable way to spend two hours, but it’s a shining example of what dedicated teachers and strong arts programs can bring into students’ lives.