We Got The Groove
Advance Dance Team Practices on the Field (Photo Courtesy of Anthony Thomas)
January 25, 2022
Millikan’s Advance Dance team is determined to start the new year strong. This year’s team is led by senior captains Elaina Gallo and Lexi Gabiero. Their practices are held during eighth period and after school three to four times a week. This school year, the team has already performed at football games, rallies, dance invitationals, dance clinics, and most recently, Millikan’s 2021 holiday show. Currently they’re preparing for the LBUSD Dance Spectrum and their yearly Spring Dance Concert.
“This year’s team is one of the strongest groups yet,” says Millikan dance teacher Jennifer Waters. “The dancers are committed, focused, are strong technically and have great style. They support and encourage each other during rehearsals and performances.”
Waters believes that the biggest struggle for the team has been getting back to performance and rehearsal schedules after spending the past school year online.
¨The dancers also train outside of school at various local dance studios. They must manage our schedule along with their individual studio classes and competitions,¨ says Waters.
Despite the challenges, Waters has high hopes for the future of the Advanced Dance team.
“We look forward to LBUSD Dance Spectrum and our Spring Dance Concert here at Millikan,” says Waters.
Olivia Truninger • Feb 1, 2022 at 3:40 pm
In Issue 4/2022 (published January 25, 2022), Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “We Got the Groove” The article highlights the Millikan Advanced Dance team. As someone who is on the Intermediate 5/6 team, it’s a joy to see the other dancers being featured. They have put in a lot of hard work to put on their performances throughout the first semester, and I can’t wait to see what else they’re working on. Rehearsals for our spring show started once we got back from winter break, so all teams have been hammering away at new choreography. The Advanced and Intermediate 5/6 team has been working since before the start of the year. Both teams have a one-week workshop before the school year to prep for freshman orientation and the new year. Millikan dancers dedicate a lot of hours to make our dances the best they can be. Mrs. Waters is such an amazing teacher, and none of the Millikan dance program wouldn’t be what it is without her. She pushes us to make us better dancers, but she also encourages us to be the best version of ourselves that we can be.
I hope that in the future we can see more performing arts in the Corydon. With Mamma Mia coming up as well as the Spring dance show and drama showcase, there will be lots of opportunities to feature the performers of our school.
Xene Sommers • Feb 1, 2022 at 10:46 am
In issue 4/2022 (published January 25th, 2022). Rebecca Wilson wrote an article called, “We Got The Groove”. This article talks about Millikan’s very own advanced dance team! I happen to be a part of this amazing group of girls, and each one of them are incredibly passionate and hardworking. I love being able to rehearse and learn from all of them. They truly inspire me. I really missed being able to perform at football games, rallies, dance invitationals, assist with our dance clinic, and participate in the Millikan 2021 Holiday show. Covid really had an impact on our team. It is really difficult to learn to dance together, when you aren’t in the same room. Watching and trying to pay attention to your teammates over zoom, doesn’t help with syncing your dance. Needless to say, having rehearsals over zoom was different and interesting. I’m so glad we persevered and are back to performing and practicing together live and in person. Mrs. Waters is an incredible department director, she is so kind and cares about our team so much. Without her, none of our shows would be possible. I am very excited for our upcoming Spring show and I can’t wait to perform and let everyone see what we’ve been working on! Thank you so much for writing this article.
Dana Leos • Jan 31, 2022 at 10:09 pm
In Issue 4/2022 (published January 25, 2022), Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “We Got The Groove.” The article mentions the Millikan advanced dance team and the efforts they’ve made this year. Prior to the article, it is given that the girls on the dance team are very hardworking and give it their all. It is truly amazing how they not only practice at school but also practice outside of school for long hours AND still manage to keep up with school and everything else they have to do, not many can. I’ve always been fascinated by Dance and have always appreciated dancers because I know it is not something easy but something that takes time and dedication/sweat to get places. I do have a question though, how did some of them start? Have they always danced or was it just a “hobby” for a while? Kudos to not only the dancers but as well as the dance teachers who have also helped push these amazing dancers so far to where they are now. I know the dancers will demolish the LBUSD Dance Spectrum concert this year. You all got this and have made it so far so good luck to you.
Kira Nygaard • Jan 31, 2022 at 2:01 pm
In Issue 4/2022 (published January 25, 2022), Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “We Got the Groove”. Wilson writes about the Advanced Dance Team of which I’ve been a part of for two years now. First of all, it’s really cool that an article was written about dance since those aren’t usually the main priority for the newspaper. Second, I agree with Mrs. Waters I feel that the team is really strong this year. All of the girls bring a big palette of talent and everyone has their own style and movement quality that miraculously blended seamlessly this year on the team. With so many different studios represented within one dance program, it can be difficult for the specific styles to mesh and sometimes clash but luckily, all of the girls are so diligent and hard working and really have the drive to make the team something explosive. As far as the next few shows go, I’m really excited for Spectrum, which is a district-wide show for all of the Advanced Dance teams, and our spring show since my freshman year was cut short due to Covid and we only just started on the dances for the 2020 spring show when we had to go into lockdown.
Beth Langendorf • Jan 31, 2022 at 11:47 am
January 31, 2022
Dear Corydon Editor,
In Issue 1/2022 (published January 25, 2022), Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “We got the Groove” The article is an informative piece on the Millikan advanced dance team, touching on their rehearsal schedule, upcoming performances, general information, and training history. I would have liked to see some quotes from the dancers, and maybe even some of their opinions on other aspects of keeping the program alive in our school (like the lack of funding they receive from the school and how they compensate), but I think the article was very well-written and informative. Prior to reading the article, I did already know some things about the dance team because I have a few friends on the team. But, since most people probably don’t, I think writing this article was a great decision to keep the school informed on a vital part of Millikan’s performing arts by sharing inside information on them, crediting the teachers, captains and team members, and ways we can help support them and their talent in the future. Thank you for writing this article.
Sincerely,
Bethanie Langendorf, Grade 11