Blog # 60: Dance Con't 2

When I became a sophomore in high school I tried out for the varsity cheerleading squad. The mascot was the Crusaders and the Dukes. I made the team and was ready to start learning our dance that summer for cheerleading camp at Emporia State University. There were 12 extremely talented girls on our squad and by the time we had our dance all made up I knew we would win first place for the “home-routine” at cheerleading camp that upcoming July. Our dance had many different types of movements from hip hop to jazz including jumps, turns, and gymnastics. Every year when I was a varsity cheerleader we always won our home-routine at cheerleading camp.
Our high school had a dance team called the crimson dancers. They would perform during our pep assembles and during half time at either a home football or basketball game. After they were done performing their dance, usually the cheerleaders would follow by doing one of our routines. I almost felt embarrassed for the dances because when we would walk out before we performed the audience would scream and applaud us because they felt like we would always have a better dance than the crimson dancers. In our high school the crimson dancers and the varsity cheerleaders didn’t exactly get along because the crimson dancers were somewhat jealous of our dances.
My experience with dance has been basically my whole life. It started when I was doing gymnastics at the age of six to being a cheerleader in high school at the age of eighteen. Since I am no longer involved in gymnastics, tap, jazz, and cheerleading I started being a “social dancer.” When I go out with friends I dance with them on the dance floor to mainly the new hip hop songs around. It’s always a blast because I can let loose and I know I am not getting judged on my dance moves.
I personally think dance should be in every young girl’s life. Not only does it keep you busy, but it lets you express yourself and make friends. I wouldn’t change a thing about my childhood. I was really glad to have experienced the different types of dance that I was involved in. However, I wish I would have done ballet, because it looked so elegant and peaceful when I would watch my friends perform.