Being on the dance team requires a lot of determination and willpower. It can be very difficult and competitive, with practices every morning plus 5 hours each weekend. Each dancer is often trying to reach the same goal, and everything can be extremely tiring. A strong mindset, patience and personal determination is huge for the hi-steppers. 

     The last 3 years have been a roller coaster for West Albany’s dance team.  The pandemic has limited their performance opportunities, with limited spectators, and the addition of masks. Although the dance team is having to work around the pandemic, a few dancers have said this season isn’t much different than the pre-covid seasons, besides the obvious lack of pep assemblies.      

     The hi-steppers are very grateful for this year’s season considering their last year’s season was canceled. Although being a  5-A dancer is hard work mentally and physically “It is very rewarding, getting to express yourself through movement and put everything into it when you’re dancing.” Junior Britney (Burt) said.

     The dancers are constantly working hard each day for their goal of state, and chasing the feeling that comes from winning, which they got a taste of in their 2020 season. At the final few weeks of the 2020 season they were 1st in 5-A, the high of being in 1st place didn’t get to stay long for the dancers because of the season cancellation.  

     After having to accept walking away from 1st, the girls decided to use it to their advantage. “We are using the 2020 season to motivate us. What happened inspires us to work harder because of how good winning felt,”   Sophomore Jada (W) said.

          The hi-steppers are like a big family; seeing each other everyday,  along with going through everything together. The relationships built on the dance team are not like any other bond and are very important to their success performing, “We win because we are close, and we do it together,” (Sophomore Jada(W)  said. 

          This year is a chance for our dance team to prove they deserve 1st and will do everything they can to have it. This isn’t far off now that the hi-steppers are one of the highest teams in 5-A and won 1st at their latest competition.

     The dancers are hoping for the return of pep assemblies which have been incredibly missed not just by the dancers but also by the student body. Pep assemblies, “…Get the whole student body united and geared towards school spirit and camaraderie,” said Principal Mrs. Osborn …along with giving the hi-steppers performance opportunities to show west albany what they are capable of and why they devote so much time and effort into their sport. The hi-steppers have 3 weeks tell they are going to state so they have been working non-stop every morning, and having competitions on the weekends, preparing them to bring back their goal of 1st place.