By: Sarah Gouldrup

Humor Editor

Back and better than ever, the Los Gatos High School (LGHS) Varsity dance team returned to Helm Field on Friday, Sept. 30, for the annual Homecoming game. During the first half, the team wowed the student section from the sidelines, engaging the crowd with festive cheers and short, entertaining routines. By halftime, it was safe to say that the football fans were more than ready for their favorite part of the night — when the dance team performs. Following the Coronation court announcement, a longtime tradition at LGHS, the dance team took to the field with a catchy routine to Pitbull’s “On the Floor.” Choreographed by seniors Julia Metz and Sarah Gouldrup, the dance featured front aerials, high kicks, and precise movements that the team nailed with ease. Sasha Balasingam, a senior at LGHS, recounted the performance with excitement. “Dance team is hands down my favorite part of the football games. Each dance is better than the one before.”

In order to keep the crowd entertained when the football team secured a hefty lead, the dance team added several new compliments to their sideline routines. One of the new additions was the first ever LGHS jump off. Members of the team each took turns completing as many toe touch sequences as they could while the rest of the girls cheered in a circle. With 19 jumps, freshman Mina Hilal took the win, with freshman Mariella Thimot following close behind with an imressive15 toe touches. 

That wasn’t the only time the dance team performed that Friday though; the girls also wowed the school at the spirit rally.. A long and somewhat stressful process, the rally dance the team does semi-annually is always a highlight for the dancers and student spectators. This year, seniors Kate Wright and Sam Schmidt choreographed the roughly 3 minute piece for the team. When asked how the dance came together, Wright detailed her experience over the two months: “I had lots of fun collaborating with teammates on choreography and asking opinions on music to create something that everyone was proud of. I’m happy that even with all of the stress, we pulled it off.” Whether it was early in the morning or after school, the team practiced tirelessly to perfect Wright and Schmidt’s dance; they even scheduled extra weekend practices to review materials or fix challenging parts. If it was not clear before, the rally definitely demonstrated the team’s immense talent.

Looking ahead, the team is preparing for the upcoming senior night on Oct. 21. While the stressful part of the season is over, the dance team still has a lot in store for the school — new fundraisers, basketball halftime performances, and the Spring rally are only a few of the exciting events on the horizon. Bring your own personal pom-poms, and come support LGHS’s dancing wildcats!