Discovery Dance Team performs at Auburn game

The Discovery Dance Team performed in the eighth annual Auburn Halftime Spirit Extravaganza on Sept. 6. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Dancers from Discovery Middle School shared their skills ‘on the plains’ during a college football game on Sept. 6.

The Discovery Dance Team participated in the eighth annual Auburn Halftime Spirit Extravaganza during the AU versus San Jose State University football clash in Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Discovery dancers performed in front of 80,000-plus football fans, along with other schools’ cheer, pom, dance, drill and pep squad members.

Discovery Dance Team members are Lija Abele, Anna Fennell, Taylor Griffith, Nolan Gunner, Kaylee Beth Kendrick, Meredith Martin, Raegan Segerson, Sarah Waldrop and Camille Walters.

Lauren Brooks, dance team coach and math teacher at Discovery, arranged for the Madison team to perform on the Auburn campus.

“Coach Brooks received an invitation from Auburn and the Cheerleaders of America to have the Discovery Dance Team to participate,” parent volunteer Gun Abele said. Cheerleaders of America with director Vicki Pfeiffer hosted and coordinated the event.

“Coach Brooks coordinated all the logistics for such an opportunity to happen,” Abele said. Brooks received a video of the choreography and confirmed that the team had learned the routines before taking the field at Auburn.

In addition, Brooks helped the dancers arrive at the one practice before their performance, arranged transportation for the dancers with their families, communicated with dancers’ families for up-to-date details and chaperoned the girls, Abele said.

All dance team members take private lessons at either The Dance Company in Madison or at Heidi Knight School of Dance in Huntsville.

In a community service venture, the dance team performed at Morningside of Madison assisted living and retirement community on Sept. 11.