Jack Stillwagon

The Jefferson dance team performs between the third and fourth quarter of the varsity girls basketball game. “A lot of the time, the captains choreograph a dance for us to practice during [practices] and at home,” junior Holly Huang said.

On Friday, Dec. 13th, Jefferson’s varsity dance team performed between the third and fourth quarter of both the freshman and varsity girls basketball games, which took place during the Winter Bash. The dance team typically performs during halftime at football games or between quarters at basketball games. In order to make sure everything goes smoothly, members of the team have to practice a lot.

“We attend practices twice a week, and the captains choreograph a routine for us to follow for the football [game] or basketball [game]. We also practice a lot at home,” senior Jasmine Ma said. “We also practice about two hours before the game to keep us fresh.”

Ma was introduced to dance by her family, rather than discovering it alone. Through this introduction, she developed a lasting passion for dance. Dancing as a child still serves as one of her most impactful memories regarding dance.

“I first got into dance because my parents put me through it. Over time, I started to find my space in [dance],” Ma said. “I really enjoy contemporary dance, I think it gives me another medium of expression.”

Dance, especially in the rigorous and often stressful environment at Jefferson, can be a tool for de-stressing and self-expression. This makes it an appealing activity for some Jefferson students, taking casual dance and moving it to the next level.

“I really like dance because it allows me to express my feelings and thoughts through a different medium; it’s another art form,” junior Holly Huang said. “My childhood was spent in the dance studio, and [since] then, dance has [remained] very important to me.”

The bonds created through the dance team can have lasting impacts and build friendships. Even disagreements can prove to serve as ultimately fruitful in the context of dance.

“When I was a sophomore, I got into an argument with a senior in the middle of practice. We started debating about our favorite artists,” Ma said. “Even though it got a little bit heated, later that night I listened to her favorite artist and [the artist] actually became my favorite. So I really respect [the senior] for that.”