Dance team hosts junior clinic

Junior dancers pose with the Diamonds after practicing at the junior dance clinic.

Wildcat Photo

Junior dancers pose with the Diamonds after practicing at the junior dance clinic.

The De Soto High School Diamonds dance team hosted a junior dance clinic on Feb. 18 for preschool through eighth grade students and were able to showcase what they learned on Feb. 21 at the boys’ varsity basketball game.

At the clinic, the girls were able to see what it is like to be a Diamond by working on strengthening previously acquired skills as well as being taught knew ones.

“We learned technique such as pointing your toes and straightening your arms and legs,” said seventh grade student at Lexington Trails Middle School Lindsey Dodd. “We also learned to be sassy and use facial expressions.”

The junior dancers weren’t the only one who gained something from the clinics. The Diamonds discovered what it was like to work with children of that age group.

“I definitely learned to have more patience because some of the kids pick up the choreography faster than others, but the whole clinic was really beneficial overall,” sophomore Emma Leonard said.

Despite the fact that both Diamonds and junior dancers put in hard work, the girls describe the clinic as being a very enjoyable experience. They were able to make new friends and play games while practicing.

“We get to play a lot of games on top of teaching them a fun dance,” sophomore Olivia Mills said. “It’s more about having fun than anything else.”

Besides having a good time during the clinic, the junior dancers were able to see what dancing has for them in the future. Through the clinic, they are able get an up-close look at what it is like to dance for the DHS dance team.

“The clinic has inspired me by reinforcing how much I want to be a Diamond,” Dodd said. “I’ve always wanted to be one because of my sister being a Diamond, but doing the clinics makes me want to try even harder to be a Diamond from seeing how much fun it is.”

Everyone who was able to participate in the clinic was very proud of the dance that they were able to produce while learning a lot about what it takes to be a dancer.