Junior Molly Cason talks about Coquettes’ and Charisma’s role in athletics

Stepping into the middle of over 4,000 people is extremely nerve-racking for about anybody. Knowing the entire school is watching and scrutinizing you is a fear of anyone in this position. Imagine having those exact fears and then add that you have to dance in front of all these people and remember three minutes of choreography, formations, and transitions. Think about the fact that not only do you have to remember this, but twenty other girls have to as well for it to look perfect, and because the goal is perfection, you cannot strive for anything less.

But the dance teams, Charisma and Coquettes, are always ready for this moment because it is what we have been working so hard to achieve. As our music starts and the dance begins, nothing beats the exhilaration of hearing the crowd go wild. When the dance is finished, everyone cheers as we exit the floor. Students may talk about the dance for a moment or two, but then it is time for them to head to the rest of the day’s activities. Few students realize just how much work goes into creating a dance that is simply for the viewer’s “halftime entertainment.”

Teaching the dance brings the process into a whole different spectrum. Each meticulous detail must be accounted for. Whether it’s a head, hand, or foot, everything must look exactly the same from person to person. If you are not on with the person in front of you, the dance looks dumb. This year, on average, we learn our dances in about a week. This is three minutes worth of material that must be absorbed and retained for the remainder of the season.

When the dance is finally taught and all formations are put into place, the next week is spent cleaning in hopes of reaching the potential of perfection. The choreographers clean first by watching the dance and re-teaching certain parts to make sure it looks exactly as they want. Then the entire team pairs up for a partner clean. This is the most helpful part of the process because everyone is trying to aid one another in reaching their potential. Knowing that someone is watching you the entire time may be nerve racking for some, but I look forward to it as a chance to make myself a better dancer. After all this is done, we break into even smaller groups for one final clean to catch anything that might have been missed. In total, a dance is taught and perfected in the time span of two weeks. The process then begins again with a new dance.

When I am out dancing in front of my school, I am having the time of my life and I know that my teammates feel the same.

Being able to dance at halftimes, convocations, and special events like Dance Marathon is our way of showcasing how hard we have worked. So next time you are watching us dance, take a minute to think about how much we care and work for you and your halftime entertainment.