Students at Coral Gables Senior High School are spending weeks rehearsing dance routines and preparing performances for the annual Mr. Coral Gables pageant.

The school tradition brings junior and senior boys to the auditorium stage to represent their clubs, sports teams and other extracurricular organizations through choreographed dances, creative introductions and talent performances, according to CavsConnect.

One contestant will earn the title of Mr. Coral Gables following a night of performances judged by a panel.

Gablettes help contestants prepare

Dance teacher Erika Diaz directs and choreographs the production, working with contestants who often have little or no dance experience.

Over several weeks of after-school rehearsals, Diaz helps participants learn routines and coordinate their performances.

The school's Gablettes dance team, which has performed at Coral Gables Senior High since 1976, assists with choreography and joins the top 10 finalists for a group performance.

Senior Gablettes member Sophia Artunduaga told CavsConnect that the dancers initially rehearse separately before increasing their joint practices with contestants as the show approaches.

In an August CavsConnect preseason feature, Diaz said the 2026-27 Gablettes squad was the smallest since she began coaching but praised the dancers' shared work ethic.

The Gablettes and contestants also coordinate costumes, music and transitions to create introductions reflecting each participant's club or sport.

Returning contestants share experience

Senior Erick del Valle is returning to the competition after participating last year.

"Coming back for a second year feels so different," del Valle told CavsConnect. "You already know how fun the backstage is going to be, so this time, I am just ready to enjoy every second and put on a great show for Gables."

Junior Noah Barbano is competing for the first time after serving as a background dancer for another contestant last year. He said that experience helped him understand the amount of practice required to prepare for the show.

Senior Darek Rodriguez is also among this year's contestants.

Last year's winner represented water polo

The 2025 Mr. Coral Gables pageant took place Dec. 17 with a "Boy Band Nation" theme featuring performances inspired by Big Time Rush, *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys.

Senior Rafael Hanono, representing water polo, won the title after advancing through the competition, which included a semifinal round and a top-six stage evaluated by Cavalier alumni, according to a January CavsConnect recap.

Rehearsals are expected to intensify as December approaches. A date and ticket information for the 2026 pageant were not available in the cited reports.