Cheer and Dance Traveling Far and Wide

Photo courtesy: Micaela Alley

While many of us tend to stay close to Kansas for games or competitions, the cheer and dance team will be traveling 1,286 miles away from our little town to represent Ottawa in a big city at the highest level. 

Dance will be performing in Daytona, Florida, on April 9 and 10, while cheer will perform April 8 and 9. Both teams will be at the Ocean Center and the Daytona Beach Bandshell. 

Dance has been practicing this routine for three months; the members are ready to show nationals what they have to offer. 

Micaela Alley, a junior in the classroom but first year on the dance team, is excited for this opportunity to share with her team and continue to build off the memories they already have. 

“As a team, we’re very close and have a great bond, which shows when we perform together,” Alley says. “We hang outside of practices, and we can count on each other no matter what. We constantly push each other to be our best as dancers, as well as people.” 

Head dance coach Tori Hilger also thinks that the team chemistry is something that will work out for the better in the upcoming competition. 

“My favorite thing about this team is their camaraderie. Many times, dancers see each other as competition, and treat each other more poorly than they would a friend. This isn’t just a team of friends, it’s a team of family,” Hilger says. “Their support for each other shines in every practice, and their relationships are so strong it strengthens this team as a whole. This team’s love for one another is truly something to admire!”

Hilger has high hopes for the small team that plans on giving big teams a run for their money, while competing in less than 10 days. 

“Having a small team is beneficial to get the one-on-one time with each dancer to get to know their quirks, their strengths, their weaknesses, and how to help them progress. Someday this team will grow and have huge visual formations and rule the school. For now, our small team is what works best for all of us.”