Dentantics 2026: “Games”
By Rachel Boutet
February 27 marked the Faculty’s annual Dentantics show — an evening of standout performances showcasing the incredible dancing, singing and acting talents of our dentistry students.
“Dentantics has been a school tradition for many years — it is a unique celebration of the many talents that exist in the student body,” says Joel Rosenbloom, director of student life. “From videos to music to acting to humour, the show never fails to disappoint. It is a time to purely have fun, and for students to offset the heavy workload with some 'right brain' work. Having participated on stage for many years, I have had an opportunity to see how the 'Dentantics Machine' works, and it is far greater than the sum of its parts. The proof is in the pudding as the saying goes, and the barometer for success is measured in applause and laughter, both of which come in at a high decibel. Dentantics is always a highlight of the winter semester."
The student members of the Dentantics Committee who brought the show to life included co-coordinators Omar Alazawi and Sandy Koussa, and class representatives Lishmaa Goudar, Matthew Huynh, Madie Narbonne, David Leung, Natalie Modreanu and Shanzeh Khan.
“There are so many individuals working behind the scenes to ensure the show runs as smoothly as it does, and we are incredibly grateful for the dedicated and talented team that supported us throughout the year,” says Koussa.
The “Games” theme was chosen by the two co-coordinators who were drawn to the idea because games are both interactive and relatable, which allowed for a great deal of creativity in developing skits, bits and performances. “We both grew up playing many different types of games, so the theme felt personal and exciting to us,” adds Koussa.
As always, the proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the U of T’s Faculty of Dentistry’s Access to Care Fund, which provides financial assistance to low-income patients who might not otherwise be able to afford dental treatment at the Faculty. This year’s show raised approximately $14,000 for the fund.
Although the show is a lot of work, Alazawi says it gave him an opportunity to express more creativity throughout dental school.
“I really wanted to be able to organize a show for students, faculty, family and friends that brought everyone together and gave us all an opportunity to let loose and have fun,” he says.
As for Koussa, who grew up in theatre and studied music in high school, her involvement was a natural fit.
“Some of my favourite memories have been on stage, so when I learned about Dentantics while applying to U of T, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of,” she says. “Fortunately, Omar and I were elected by our class together, and we have truly enjoyed being involved with the show for the last three years.”
Koussa admits that neither of them fully understood how much work went into organizing the show, however, it was an incredibly rewarding experience to bring people together for a positive cause.
“For me especially, this has allowed me to combine something I have always loved with a unique dental spin.”
Both Alazawi and Koussa credit the mentorship of their Dentantic predecessors Natalie Modreanu and Shanzeh Khan, who helped them every step of the way.
“Planning the show while being full-time students is certainly a unique experience,” says Alazawi. “Like anything else, it has required strong time management, clear communication and careful organization to ensure we produce the best show possible while maintaining our academic responsibilities.”
Alazawi and Koussa note the success of this year’s show wouldn’t be possible without many people who supported them along the way including Tanvi Sharma, Dental Students' Society vice-president of finance for helping fund the show, and the many classmates who went above and beyond in planning and contributing to various acts. They included Meghan Paleolog, Raunak Sharma, Jack Weaver, Juan Fernandez, Jesse Camacho, Frankie Yang, Vipul Gupta and Rebecca Dib.
Koussa says, “This show truly reflects how remarkable our student body is when we come together with a shared purpose.”
You can watch the recap of The Dentantics 2026 show here and view more photos of the event here.
Top photo: Shanbiao Lin; Videos by Julia Ao