There is a new form of entertainment at the Stevens basketball games. The competition dance team has formed a dance team that performs at halftime of the home basketball games, both boys and girls. A team of nine girls perform a three-minute routine of popular remixed hip-hop songs. Their first performances were in February.
The team is passionate about their dance, and enjoy sharing it with the crowd. This provides an opportunity for people to see what the dance team has to offer, and maybe even join the team next year. Their performances have been received positively by fans.
Many of the girls are also on the winter sideline cheer team, leading the crowd in different ways during the game.
The Blues Dance Team has taken a more student-led approach this year, with the team choreographing their dance, and the coach supporting them in any way possible. Senior Natalie Baker took the lead on choreographing, as she had the most experience.
The team had input on the music and their uniforms, so they could feel their best while dancing. They sport a sparkly Raider blue top and bow, and a black skort.
Head Coach Makayla Allen has served as a coach for multiple years, and was a dancer before that. “I really like how funny and nice she is. She’s very open to hearing everything. Even when we didn’t do her best kudos.” said team member Kylie Barnes.
Senior Natalie Baker, a winter sideline cheerleader, a competition dancer team said, “I love performing in front of a crowd, and I also love dancing with my friends.” She hopes to inspire people, and make sure they know that anyone can be a dancer and performer. “My favorite part of dancing is expressing myself,” She told me. She started dancing in her free time, and eventually joined Steven’s team.
First-time dancer, and winter sideline cheerleader, Delilah Espinoza said the team practices twice a week, with their assistant coach from the competitive team. Espinoza said, “I’ve always wanted to dance. I hope to achieve more skills because I went into dance blind and learned so many skills.” She also said, “I like experimenting with choreography and music and matching styles to the beat of the song.”
The dance team has provided a fun, entertaining atmosphere to our basketball games. The girls work hard towards their public performances. You can catch them performing at halftime.
