Dance Team
Back to the halls of the High School this week, the sound of music took me to the cafeteria, which to my surprise were a team of girls that I found out were the High School Dance Team. Well, this was right down my alley so I went in and introduced myself and had a warm welcome from the team and their coach Michelle Lindquist.
Practice was about to begin, so I stood aside and thought I would watch what they are doing; and just maybe, I would join in the warm-up. Within a minute I knew that would not happen for me. I watched in awe as they twisted, turned and jumped. What great talent, I thought.
I was able to do some interviewing with the girls and coach. This is what I learned.
Coach Lindquist has been the coach of this team for 13 seasons, having been the cheerleading coach prior to this for 8 years. There are 22 members on the team, and they practice 5 days a week for 2 hours after school. Their season runs from June-March. The team performs at all the St Johns Girls and Boys home basketball games.
They also participate in Little Girls Clinic, K-5 and teach them the art of dance team. They have a Middle School clinic for all 3 grades and performed this year at Hazel Findley Country Manor.
The team has taken First Place in Jazz and Hip Hop and Grand Champions over all and best costume.
In the summer they attend a summer camp either at Michigan State University or Oakland University.
There are 5 captains of this team and they are: Trista Malek, Ana Witteveen, Mackenzie Irrer, Madison Lake-Wickham and Nicole Motz. Some of these girls will be trying out for college dance teams.
All of the captains agree,” that they wouldn’t be as original, sparkly and successful without Couch Lindquist”.
I was able to meet a new team member by the name of Christy Jorae, a 17 year old with Downs Syndrome. Christy is a jubilant girl who assists Coach Lindquist every day at practice. She takes care of starting the music and performs in as many of the routines that she can.
She performs with the team in the pre-game dances and in their Christmas Routine. Last week Christy performed her own routine and wore a red costume with the dance team around her wearing black. The team has indeed taken her under their wing, and she is a big part of their lives and the team as a whole. They help her at school, sit with her at lunch and help after school.
I do think that the dance team girls as well as Coach Lindquist deserve a huge thank you for giving Christy this opportunity to be a part of their lives and be able to participate in something that every girl might dream of.
Christy’s mother Renae, said, “One Team, One School, One Community is making all the difference to One Girl”.
The Dance Team do have some fundraisers to help cover the cost of their costumes and music and for for their summer camp, gas and lodging. They have a food booth at the Mint Festival and sell yard signs for all sports at SJHS. They also do a car wash and have a “Tag Day”, door to door to raise money for these things.
In closing, I want to say that it was a pleasure to meet this team, and please support a fundraiser or donations can go to the High School Dance Team.
Coach Lindquist sums it all up with this statement, “I have some of the best leaders and role models in this school on this team”.
Congratulations, Coach and all of your team!