Blue Angels entertained James Clemens fans all year
MADISON- Their season started before football season and they have entertained Jet’s fans at home football games and home basketball games. The Blue Angels dance team will perform their final routines at the National Dance Alliance High School Nationals at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla. March 2-5.
They are already state champions having won the Alabama Dance Championship held at Spain Park High School in January.
They perform two routines, one in pom and one hip-hop. The team has fighter pilot outfits for the hip-hop routine. They also paid tribute to the NBA at a recent basketball game halftime performance as members wore jerseys from their favorite team.
Rebecca Stinson is the groups coach and sponsor.
“We have 17 girls on the team. All of the girls do studio dance so it is their life. Some could very well study dance in college and go on to dance professionally.”
It becomes obvious just watching them perform that a high level of expertise is expected from team members.
“Tryouts are very rigorous,” Stinson added. “They are expected to know dance techniques and have that prepared. We have high standards for each of our dancers and the team as a whole. We love working with girls who want to be on the dance team to make them better but in order to compete at this level it is almost a must that these girls have years of experience at dance academies.”
Stinson said that there are life lessons to be learned through the dance team.
“They learn how to overcome even the bad days and keep working hard. These girls are dedicated to working on their dance skills both as individuals and as a team.”
The team has its origins in the James Clemens Marching Band. But that arrangement had holdbacks and proved too confining for some members.
So two years ago they decided to take the group to a higher level of dance. With the support of school administration they started a new dance team and became the official dance team of James Clemens High School.
Abby Willis said being on the team means “learning how to work hard and not give up. And being with 16 other girls every day you build that bond with them. We are all best friends now. We keep each other accountable.”
