With many clubs and sports at Northview, there are various opportunities for students to express their creative side. However, there was never a chance for dancers to show off their unique skills, until last year, when the dance team was introduced.
The dance team was organized by seniors Emily Camp and Neala Jacobson-Dicks and originally had just a few people, but the team continued to grow this year and is a lot more structured. Just as last year, the dance team is just performing at basketball half times, but now they are doing both girl’s and boy’s games instead of just the boys.
Alum Neala Jacobson-Dicks was a team member last year when she was a senior and is now the team’s choreographer and coach.
“I’m able to put a lot more time into the team because I’m able to actually be a coach and not also juggle being on the team [with doing the] choreography,” Jacobson-Dicks said.
Jacobson-Dicks is making some changes to the team.
“I’m focusing on conditioning and technique which are two things we didn’t focus on last year,” Jacobson-Dicks said. “I’m also planning on incorporating a jazz technique into the dances this year.”
Junior Brooke Witke is a returning member of the team this year. Witke agrees that the team is a lot more structured.
“I definitely think it’s more organized now because last year it was all over the place,” Witke said. “This year we actually have a coach and a choreographer, whereas last year we were all kind of putting in our ideas to make a dance.”
Witke has hopes for the team for this year.
“It’s becoming a real sport [at Northview]. By the end of the season, we hope that it’s an actual winter sport at the high school. That’s our main goal,” Witke said.
As well as focusing on the dancing, Jacobson-Dicks is making sure everybody has a good time.
“They are not only working on dance but also self-confidence,” Jacobson-Dicks said. “It’s important to me that I make it a safe space for everyone on the team to have fun and have a group where there is no judgment.”
The spirit that everybody has is what freshman Summer Swanzy likes most about the dance team.
“My favorite thing about the dance team so far is learning new choreography each day and having fun with the team,” Swanzy said. “I think that it’s so much fun and I enjoy it. I love the energy that everyone has on the team.”
Jacobson-Dicks can’t wait to see what happens with this team.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the growth from the start of the season to the end. Of course, I can’t wait until all the dances are done and I get to watch them all perform and have all of their hard work pay off,” Jacobson-Dicks said. “I have a lot more people on the team this year and there is so much potential.”
The dance team is first performing during halftime at the girls’ basketball game on December 7. Come down and see their first dance at halftime!
