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| Competition Team after an amazing performance at Xi Man! |
Anyway, this year has been FULL of adventures! I joined so many new clubs, including PAWS, which helps take care of the working cats on campus, The Riddle Off-Roaders, and I got back into RC flying. I also joined a new organization called SWISE, which stands for Society of Women in Space Exploration. But by and far the most adventurous thing I've done is...I joined the Dance Team. Embry-Riddle Dancing Eagles. I've never done anything like this, as anyone who knows me knows, I've always gotten my kicks backstage. But I've performed on the quad, at basketball games, and even onstage. I'm getting out of my comfort zone, and now I have so much to share with all of you!
At first, the dance team scared the living daylights out of me. I walked in to their first "intro" class, and I just looked around at all these people who were introducing themselves with how much training they had in dance...and then there was me. "Hey, I'm me, and my dance training is watching other people dance from backstage." Wow, I felt like a fish out of water. But the second thing to surprise me about them was how nice they were; how welcoming. It's quickly become a highlight, something I look forward to every week. No matter how bad my week is, knowing I have dance pushes me through to Friday. Dance team is divided into two sub-teams, there's the performers who go do like basketball games and talent shows and stuff, and the competition team, who just won their first title and are going to NATIONALS. HOW COOL IS THAT? I'm not the competition team, but sometimes I go as a supporter, although I can never completely leave my Stage Manager tendencies behind! Here are some of the amazing people I get to dance with every week.
Hafiy is the captain of the team, and a really talented dancer. He always has so much energy and is very kind and has awesome facial expressions when he dances! He's always encouraging everyone-even me, and I have turned tripping over my own two feet into an art form.
Kelsey is another amazing dancer. She choreographed the first dance I ever did with Dance Team. She is super-smart and friendly. As you can see from the pictures, she's always smiling!
And, lest you think we work TOO hard, we always find time to relax and hang out and talk. Even if it's just while we're stretching. Everyone is so willing to help each other, it would seem fake if you didn't know these people, and know how nice they actually are. It's not fake, they genuinely ARE a team in every sense of the word
Another thing I've learned and appreciate about the dance team is how supportive they are of each other. While the competition team was performing, people who weren't performing but are in dance came to support their teammates! Here's Alyssa and Lauren waiting for the doors to open at Xi Man!
Alyssa's best friend on the team is Alexis. They always high-five before the dance in rehearsals, and I consider it good luck, even though I don't know the backstory of it. Alexis lives in the same complex as me and she's super talented. (Ok, yes, I say that about everyone, but you have to see these people dance!) Her smile is infectious, if she's laughing, she'll make sure you're in on the joke and will make you laugh too.
This is one of the "social events" Dance Team does. At this one, we went to Oceans Dance Studio, where we learned new dancing styles. Here we learned the cha-cha and the Tango and the teacher danced with me, so that was cool.
Skye, Annalise, and Amy are currently choreographing the next dance we'll be performing at an event called Squawk. It's like a talent show for Orientation Team. I have no idea what Squawk is, but I plan to have fun in the doing of it. I practice the dance a lot-no, video of me tripping over my own two feet will not follow.
We practice in the gym every week on Friday Nights. That means I don't go to TNG events and get bonus bucks on Fridays anymore, but I don't even mind, surprisingly. I'm actually having so much fun at Dance, and I enjoy the company of these people so much. I'm surprised by how much I admire these people, but also very much consider them friends and teammates. I mean, look at these smiling faces, how can you even DOUBT we're having fun in there? (Ok, to be fair, we were also trying to get this done quickly cuz we wanted cake, which was just outside this picture, haha.)
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| Photo creds to Dance Team Photographer |
I've danced in TWO of the dance performances. The first one was where I danced on the quad. We wore camo, and Alexis did my makeup. We also did it at the soccer game the next day. We did that one for homecoming, and it's up on Facebook on the dance team Facebook page
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| I'm in the hat, stage left in the photo. Photo creds to Dance Team Photographer |
The second one was choreographed by Zack and Skye, and I managed not to fall off the stage, which is what I was really afraid would happen. Anyway, that dance was at Riddle's Got Talent, put on by my own Riddle Players. You can watch that on the Dance Team Facebook Page too.
Next week is spring break, and I'll be home for a week, see my mom and my puppy. I can't believe it's finally my SENIOR SEMESTER! I graduate in May, and I will officially be the first in my immediate family to have my Bachelor's! More photos and videos will follow shortly, so keep it here!
xoxo Martian