Hosting dance invite stretches efficiency, creativity of Wildcat squad
As the calendar pages turn, the West dance team continues to push toward competitions and recognitions. Their most recent competition on January 7, with 14 teams (ranging from divisions I through VI), checked off one of their final competitions leading up to regionals. Competitions were held in nearly all four corners of the state that same weekend, but West dance team alumni Christina Rabe brought her own Thomas Jefferson Middle School squad to her alma mater.
“As an alumni of the Oshkosh West Dance Team, I thought it would be cool to bring my team to the place that inspired me to coach,” she said.
Preparation for such an event typically begins around the start of the dance season. The Oshkosh West Invitational was expected to run on a smaller scale, so it was important that the team continued to promote registration via their social media platforms and brainstorm what would make this event exciting for everyone. Assistant Head Coach Ally Grill knew that the team had its work cut out for them.
“Our main motivation for having this competition was not to let our loyal teams down,” she said. “If they’re willing to come, we’re willing to host.”
Even with the smaller attendance, the nights leading up to the invite consisted of cleaning and decorating the gyms, classrooms, and hallways of the school. Parents, siblings, student volunteers, and nearly the entire janitorial staff were recruited to make the event successful. For senior Abby Stevens, this tedious list of responsibilities was crucial to running a cohesive program.
“We had a list of things we needed to accomplish so that everything ran smoothly,” she said. “Each dancer was responsible to bring two volunteer workers, and we all took time to make different raffle baskets.
This was not the team’s first rodeo in hosting. Junior Fallon Mcclellan felt that last year’s experience had improved the quality of the new competition.
“The preparation for this invite was much better,” she said. “We were able to get the setup and take down very fast and efficiently. We were much more organized and less stressful, and the coaches also did an amazing job putting this entire thing together.”
On the morning of the event, West dancers arrived early to do some of the finishing touches before teams began arriving at 7:00 am in time for the solo and duet performances to kick off the day at 9:00 am. Despite the shortened itinerary for the West dancers, sophomore Lucy Whitcomb appreciated the brevity.
“Although bigger competitions can be super fun to go to, as the hosts, we appreciated this short but sweet competition day,” she said. “At other larger competitions, these ceremonies don’t typically begin until the late evening, often making for an over 12-hour day.”
To refuel the 166 dancers in attendance, vendors like Maui Wowi, Rocky’s Pizza, Rose Subs and Dippin Dots provided many of the girls’ favorite snacks. As a thanks, junior Kendall Larson and the rest of the team worked along with these vendors to create a memorable experience for all of those who attended.
“The team was keeping up with the jobs given for the competition,” she said. “The girls were either working the concessions or doing raffle baskets. We always did our best to keep up the morale of our team as well as the other teams there.”
The West dancers performed their Division I pom and kick routines for exhibition in the afternoon. Come awards, all five of the West soloists placed, with Larson taking first for the second consecutive year at the Wildcat Invite. Although the host team cannot place in final rankings, the group stayed competitive and focused and cheered on the Middle School Group.
“Our competition is tough in the Middle School Division,” Rabe said. “That’s why, as a coach, I am working hard and trying my best.”
Despite the high tensions, the group put out their best efforts.
“We definitely did not have a normal practice schedule recently, but we did perform our best,” Grill said.
Grill is ready to see what the future holds for the Invitational.
“I think the biggest takeaway is planning what we’re going to do with the competition in the future,” she said. “In the past, everything was so successful that there was no doubt in anyone’s mind to host another competition. But as two young coaches, not everything that has worked in the past will work for us in the future, and it is important to acknowledge that that’s okay.”
by Morgan Reitz
Published January 30, 2023
Oshkosh West Index Volume 119 Issue 4