WHS First Dance Team Is On A Roll!
Warrenton High School formed its very first dance team last fall after an invitation was posted in the school halls asking students to join.
Nine girls soon signed up, many of them possessing a background in dancing. The idea for the team was to offer opportunities to students who like dancing, but would not necessarily choose to be involved with the other sports offered at the school.
The new dance team will allow its members to bring their talent to the sporting events and school assemblies during the school year.
Hally Chauvin has always loved dancing, and was part of the cheer team at Kelso High School. After moving to Warrenton, she came up with the idea of starting a dance team at WHS. Hally was first hoping to have a cheer team, but it was not an option due to lack of funding. After many talks with the principal, Mr. Heyen, they found a solution and were able to get started with a jazz dance club.
Click to enlarge photo
The WHS dance team starting from top left: Sofia Morrill, Kara Dowaliby, Hallie Mossman, Natalie Oseguera, Mara Dowaliby and Hally Chauvin. Bottom left: Serena Moha, Katie Koch and Hannah Jones.
An instructor was needed, so Hally contacted the local dance studios to see if anyone would like to help. Carleta Allen, who teaches at Maddox Dance Studio, stepped forward to volunteer as teacher and choreographer. Miss Allen has been meeting with the team three times a week since October, their first performance being held shortly after, during a school assembly.
More recently, the dance club has been performing at half-time during the varsity basketball home games where they received their first standing ovation. The performances have been a nice addition to game nights, and if we are lucky, with the varsity girls extending the season into the playoffs, we might get to see them perform again.
Hally would like to see the club become a real team, and hopes they can be more involved. She would like to see the team teaching younger children, and even having them perform with the dance team. She also hopes that someday in the future the team would be ready to take part in regional dance competitions.
Annamaria Morrill
