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- Sophomore Anna D’Alleva works on a hip-hop routine during a dance team practice.
by Ryan Condon
When seniors Maura Quinn and Hanna Stubblefield-Tave saw students’ interest in having a dance team during the fall season, they knew what they had to do.
They created a fall dance team that will compete in addition to this school’s winter dance team.
“The winter team was created back in 2008, but last year, we saw more and more interest for another team,” said Stubblefield-Tave.
“We talked to athletic director Tom Giusti about making another team, and he said we could do it. It just happened from there.”
Quinn asked Stephanie Hubbard to coach the team.
She had met Hubbard at a class that Hubbard was teaching a few years ago, and she agreed to coach the team.
Hubbard said that she took the job because “I am always interested in opportunities in the dance community.”
Last year, Nathane Lamas and Emma Leader, both ’11, were captains for the winter team.
Quinn and Stubblefield-Tave were voted captains for the winter and fall teams for this year, but Stubblefield-Tave said she will only be captaining the winter team due to other commitments.
The team will dance at events in this school, then enter Bay States, a competition that takes place next month, according to Quinn.
The dancers will use parts of previous dances to create a large performance for the competition, said Quinn.
The performances are judged on synchronization, choreography, showmanship, difficulty and crowd appeal, according to Hubbard.
One problem with the judging system, said Quinn, is that most other high schools in the area dance jazz, while the Tigers dance hip-hop.
“Because the two styles are almost impossible to compare, we sometimes get lower marks than other schools would,” said Quinn.
However, Quinn said that the team might enter another competition held at the Reggie Lewis Track Center that has a hip-hop division. South also competes in the competition.
This year, the team has had less time to prepare for the competition due to a late start. “We’re trying to connect everyone together, and I think we already have a close-knit group of girls,” said Quinn.
“This year we’re just starting out, with our first fall season and a new coach,” Quinn said. “We’ll have to try out new ideas and see what works and what doesn’t.”
Hubbard said, “We have to bond quickly and work extra hard to make up for our lack of familiarity, but our strength is our drive and passion.
“Every girl on the team wants to be there and loves every second if it. That, coupled with the girls’ talent, will make for a strong team.”
In the future, Stubblefield-Tave said that she expects to see growing interest in dance at this school.
“The girls who are juniors this year will have to step up next year and lead the team. After that, they have to pass on their love of dance to the younger students. That is how the team will continue in the future.”
