Personal Narrative: The Coed Choreo Dance Team

There was between 10 to 20 of us in the dance room and we were all learning from one dance instructor. In this kind of dance class, instead of a one-on-one dance class, we needed to know how to learn in a group setting. For example, I was in the front so I could see our dance instructor and make sure I wasn’t doing the dance steps wrong. The dance class also moved fast because we had so much to learn in so little time. So, our dance instructor separated the guys and girls into two groups and she taught the girl’s dance steps first and then she taught the boys their dance steps. At first, I felt a little uncomfortable learning all of the dance steps. For me, it was hard not to compare myself to the other dancers in our class. One thing I learned was that everybody had their own way of learning the dance steps and some people picked up on the dance steps easier than others. I just tried my best to pick up on all the dance steps and have

Marie and I had just left her house and were walking to the tryouts. It was a really quick walk because she lives only 2 houses away from the studio. This was back in August 2017, a few days after dance camp ended for the summer. We hurried down the stairs to go inside and kept talking about how nervous and excited we were the whole way down. Once we got inside of Bleker’s, we started talking to the other girls. After just a few minutes we were all taken into the dance room and together we all learned a hip hop, jazz, and tap routine. We only had about 30 minutes to learn all of the routines so we were all feeling a little rushed. Before we knew it, the dance teachers put us into groups of 3-5 girls. These groups were the people we would perform our dance routines with. My group was Meghan S, Grace, and I.

Suddenly My mom started to finally understand how nervous I was about this it was like a light bulb was on top of her head and it had just turned on. Then she explained how it won’t be as scary because I would be practicing everything with my dance teacher Mrs.Dawnell. Also, she told me that I would get to practice with my friends, But she also told me that we would have to practice doing our interviews. I was even more scared of that even though it was just going to be practice. I can’t even imagine what i’m going to feel when i’m in interviews with the judges.

My mouth hung open as I watched the gorgeous, graceful girls leap and twirl across the gym floor during their annual summer mini-camp. From that point forward, I knew that I wanted to be a Chiefette. I studied up on the history of the team, watched every one of their public performances, and enrolled in dance team preparation classes. Each year, the Chiefettes got better and better, and during each dance, their pirouettes and jetes grabbed my heart and carried me with them through their emotional journey. Their movement quality astounded me; I wasn’t exactly sure how a team of so many girls could dance in unison with seemingly effortless grace. I knew from talking to the girls on the elite team that they maintained excellent grades, participated in other school activities and sports, and volunteered within the community. These girls were my idols, and I thought that the only way to have a positive high school experience was to join the dance team. There was no question in my mind that I would be on the team all four years of high school, and because I had prior dance experience, that I would be one of the better dancers on the team. Throughout middle school, I dreamed about the day when I would finally be able to call myself a Chiefette, but I soon realized that I had no idea the amount of hard work and talent that it took to earn that

The fact that I was not dancing had somehow made me responsible for providing helpful criticism. I was afraid I might have forgotten to tell her something important, that they may not look together on the court, but it seems as though I had forgotten that birds of feather flock together. On the court, the music started, and they danced perfectly. They look so good! How come they don't practice like that? I wondered. They performed, were given a loud applause, then ran off the court. Ten minutes later, we were already getting ready for the next dance, the one I was to perform.

Who all can say that they have danced on national television at Walt Disney World? Well now, I can say that I did. I have been on many trips to Disney World but this one was by far the best because I got to be there with my dance team. In a small town like Saltillo it is very rare that any type of athletic team goes and wins state competitions or makes it all the way to a national level but we did. The Saltillo High School dance team of 2014 was the first team to ever go beyond a state competition and do anything on a national level. It was a huge honor for all of us to represent our school in the way we did. From arriving to Disney’s ESPN Resort, to getting ready then preforming was an overall great experience for all of us.

Pendleton dance team were all sitting in a circle with big smiles on their faces like as they had already won. They were our biggest competition this competition because our scores were really close first round. When we performed second round most of my teammates were telling us how they messed up which I hated because it made me think

Smiling to myself at the memory, I thought of how much I had grown since that audition. I remembered the concerts I had performed in, the choirs I had tried out for, the sectionals I had lead. My growing confidence in my musical abilities had spilled over into other areas of my life, too: I spoke more in class and I no longer hesitated to try new things. I fondly glanced around the chorus room one last time, mentally absorbing every detail. I closed the door behind me, not feeling like running anymore, and strode the rest of the way down the hall, moving on to the next stage of my

We are the Lowell Red Devils, and with that name, we carry proud alumni that came before us. We were not always so memorable in the cheerleading world though. This past year we set a goal of making it to The National High School Cheerleading Championships, in Orlando Florida. To get to this competition we had to qualify in December, not only did we qualify but we placed first out of 15 teams. The energy and excitement was paralyzing, as we realized

An extracurricular activity that I have had the pleasure to take part in for the past five years is the Greenwood College School dance team. Starting off as a new and young member of the team, I often faded in the background and followed the instruction of senior students, showing up to practice and doing the dances as told. During my first two years, in addition to being in various senior choreographed routines, I choreographed a dance alongside girls in my grade, an experience that gave me a basis of teamwork skills including compromise, commitment, open mindedness, reliability and creativity. After I became an experienced member of the team, the coach offered me a position as the team coordinator which I happily accepted. For the past two

In middle school, traditional dancing was a hobby, but at our church’s Chinese New Year Celebration, I wanted to create a routine. So, in the next few weeks, I gathered 8 girls together to make the troupe. Only problem was that I was the only one with any dance experience. Though choreographing to the music came easily, teaching the girls did not. Over 3 months, we practiced tirelessly in my house, perfecting every move for the performance. In the end, our traditional dance was a hit, and we continue to perform year after year. I think I am most proud of my first New Year performance. It was the first time that I had initiated an event by myself and watched it

The day of my tryout comes, and I’m nervous because it’s a totally different style of dance than I’m used to. I know nothing about it, and all the girls have been at it for over a month! Despite that, I’m still excited and I eagerly walk in the front doors of my high school. 30 heads turn to look up at me. My dirty, worn out shoes, and messily pulled-up hair didn’t seem too appealing to them, to say the least. Some of the girls looked confused and whispered quietly with the person to their side. The two captains of the team come walking up to me with a huge smile on their face. The kind that’s kind of forced.

As I walked into the intermediate room at Monsters of Hip-Hop, the nerves inside of me built up like a hot air balloon. I was stretching in jealousy of other girls and boys as they showed their amazing talents. I start to worry if I mess up on the choreography, out of nowhere the choreographer Laura Edwards comes in. I look at my mom in fear,

Our team sat in the hallway of our school, waiting for our name to be called to enter the gym. The pregame jitters were everywhere. Girls were bouncing up and down, fanning themselves and skittering around. I had a flood of emotions inside me. I was mostly excited but also quite nervous. What if my parents didn’t like the dance? What if my peers don’t like the dance? What if it looks bad? I couldn’t help but doubt the routine in a time of such nervousness. Our coach gave us each her routine good-luck shoulder shakes, and I knew the time had come. I heard the crowded gym fall quiet.

"Besides the part where I have to wear a rubber mouse head for 6 minutes, yeah" I responded laughing. We continued to stretch, going through our splits, and adding some relevés to get our ankles warmed up. We stretched our arms and legs, did a few push-ups and jumping jacks. All you could smell was the hairspray, and the make-up, and weirdly cookies, but that's because we all teamed up and brought snacks. We all made our way onto the stage, pitch black, to hear mumbling out by the sound booth and up in the light box. All of a sudden the lights come on, and we sit ourselves in a semi circle around the three teachers, Lauren, Gretchen, and Vanessa. I zone out as they begin speaking and focus