Dance may not be considered a traditional sport, but the amount of athleticism it takes to be a dancer should not be understated. Unlike many other sports, it has the ability to tell a story. While Wakefield’s dance team has been nationally recognized for its talent, they should also be recognized for how much effort and dedication they put into their performances.
Shannon Proctor has been the dance coach at Wakefield for the past 22 years and has helped the dance team develop into the talented group it is today. One of the key reasons for their success is their desire to always have fun. Their new motto for this year embodies that goal.
“Our team motto this year is ‘work hard, play hard,’” Proctor said. “You’re only in high school one time, and so you want to make sure that it’s enjoyable.”
This phrase embodies how dance is not only about winning, but also enjoying the art of dancing. High school is not only a time for academics, but also for learning about yourself and having fun while doing it. Proctor later elaborated on the importance of appreciating the journey when participating in dance.
“Achieving that skill or that turn or that jump or that leap — [it’s] fun to get that,” Proctor said. “They want to work, but they’re also having a good time doing it.”
Practice plays another integral role in the team’s massive success. The team works on a variety of skills that are necessary for cohesion and teamwork. Junior Kailyn McCullen shares her experiences with the team’s rigorous approach.
“We stretch, we condition, and Miss Proctor puts together different moves,” McCullen said. “She puts together the best things that we can do in order for us to win [at] competition. And then we run those routines over and over again.”
All this practice is in preparation for competitions. Each competition is different, featuring some events where Wakefield’s dance team competes against teams from all across the country.
These teams compete to earn titles. Co-captain Olivia Jones describes Wakefield’s goals for the forthcoming season.
“We do about five competitions a year,” said Jones. “This year, we’re trying to win a state championship, and that will be in January. Last year we went to nationals, but this year, we’re trying to win a local competition.”
Competitions are an essential part of dance as a sport. The contests test the athleticism and precision of dance teams, as well as provide dancers with the opportunity to showcase their hard work and dedication.
“Normally, [competitions are sorted] by category,” said Jones. “The jazz people will go, and then they’ll have a pom [aka performance cheer] category, game day category, [and] hip hop category. The different categories will go one after another. There are normally three judges, and they’ll give us a score.”
Being a part of the dance team requires sacrifice and dedication to the craft. To be successful, team members must execute their practiced routines flawlessly. Senior Zoe Mosley shares her experience with the team’s schedule.
“In past years, we [went] to a lot of South Carolina competitions,” Mosley said. “We would wake up, we would meet here at about six… [then] hop on the bus [and] get there. We wouldn’t get back to school [until late that day.]”
If one wants to be a part of something that embraces camaraderie and dedication, the team is always looking to recruit new talent. Anyone is welcome to join and achieve something great with Wakefield’s dance team.
“The team is very positive,” McCullen said. “Everybody is constantly encouraging each other, and I would definitely give Dance [class] a try. If you like it, I would say try out [for the team].”
