Dancing with the TJ Spartans
Artwork by Kiera Classen
On Saturday, January 7th, the new TJ Dance Team will be premiering during the first home game for boy’s basketball, performing their best dance skills in hopes of making the team more widely known around school.
The Dance Team is a new group at TJ that was put together by nine junior girls. The team consists of Emily Cho, Stefany Najera, Dayzaniha Threats, Arial Toliver, Indya Henderson, Kailya Goodman, Jasmine Chacon, Brianna Rutt, and CiCi Karr. “Not only does the dance team give TJ a lot of school spirit, but I think it also inspires people to follow their dreams,” says Chacon.
The dance team meets everyday after school to practice in order to master their routines. Cho choreographs for the team, always teaching them new and different dances. Cho transferred to TJ from DSA, where she was a dance major. “Although I feel like the team is slightly underestimated right now, I’m excited to prove everyone otherwise at the basketball game when we get to perform,” said Cho.
Their routines are geared to have a more urban feel. “We mostly do hip-hop dance, because that’s the kind of dance that sparked all of our interests the most,” said CiCi Karr. At the game, the team will be performing to song, Forever by Chris Brown.
The basketball game will not be the end of the dance team’s performances. The girls are already planning upcoming recitals and are even fundraising for team uniforms. “We want to make this dance team better as the year goes on, and that is what we plan on doing,” said Threats.
The dance team is on a mission to show TJ a different side to them, in hopes of positive responses. “We’re going to bring something different and unique to TJ’s culture. We’re different from all other teams, including cheerleading,” says Toliver. The eleven aspiring junior girls hope that the dance team will expand throughout the year, and for many years to come, as well.
