Team Prepares to Shine at Pep Rally by Matthew Trazzera
After quitting dance, 9th grader Aliana Alvarado made a return to the sport through the Melbourne High School Miracles. Although she had 5 years of experience, she said her new team provides new lessons and experiences. Her favorite routine this year was the hip-hop dance that has been performed at the pep rally.
To prepare for the event, Alvarado and her teammates spent hours practicing their routine and sideline dances in the school’s dance room. She explained that practices start early, with dancers arriving as early as 7:50 a.m. “We practice our routine a lot,” she said. “We are prepared to perform.”
Dance also had a personal impact Alvarado. “It made me become confident as a person and taught me how important teamwork is,” she said. Along with mental growth, Alvarado also touched on the physical growth dance has brought her. “[It has improved] my strength and flexibility,” she said.
Caption: A dancing Miracle: Freshman Aliana Alvarado a member of the miracle dance team performs hip-hop dance with ponytail dance club at melbourne high school. Alvarado's team and the ponytail dancers shine as they perform, the ponytail dancers look so happy to be dancing with the Miracle dance team, as if they look up to them. “The ponytail dance club was so excited to perform the hip-hop dance with us” Alvarado says. Photo credits: Caroline Schneider