Saturday, August 31, 2024, after a late night of performing, the Judson Diamond Varsity Dance Team held a clinic for students from Pre K to twelfth grade from 1 to 4 p.m. Here, the Diamonds taught young dancers many dances, but most importantly, one that they would perform later at the Judson football game during halftime against Hutto High School.
To the outside person, dancing is the manipulation of the body, a series of movements all lined up to create an end product, a dance. But to the Diamonds, it is so much more than what meets the eye. It is a sisterhood and a community. It is passionate. When given the opportunity to share all that it is, the dancers took it.
Being inspired from other schools, Coach Lopez created the Junior Diamond Dance Clinic to expand the community, build school spirit, and show future Rockets what being a Diamond is all about.
The clinic took place in three different locations: the dance studio, the main gym, and the freshman gym, all led by different members of the Diamonds. For the first hour, the young dancers were taught different skills and dances choreographed by the members.
Though the end goal of the clinic was to prepare the upcoming dancers for their performance, the members of the squad wanted more.
Junior, Rickki Pena, created her own hip-hop choreography to teach the kids.
“I know that learning something new can be challenging for others. But, having the opportunity to teach them something new and different really brings something out of me.” explained Pena.
Not only were the Diamonds teaching the future Rockets different skills pertaining to dance, but they also shared the positive ways that dancing has impacted themselves, along with their own passion.
“I used to be very shy, so dance was like an outlet to me. Whenever I perform, I’m like a completely different person,” senior, Kayla Jahn, commented. “I want other people to feel good about themselves too.”
Pena also mentions how being in dance can help young girls out of their shell.
“Some of them are really shy, so [with dance] you get to help bring that out of them. You get to see them light up when they meet new people,” Pena said.
Throughout the three hours that the Diamonds spent at the clinic, they helped the girls’ physical skills, as well as the social aspects that come with being a Diamond.
Friday, September 6, 2024, the junior dancers and Diamonds made their debut during halftime by performing the aforementioned dance they learned at the clinic to the song, “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” from the Broadway musical “Hairspray.”
Want to see more of our Diamonds dance team? Talk to your counselor about joining the program, or follow them on social media @judsondance!