After two years, the re-established Royal Oak High School Dance Team, under coach Kate Martin, has been performing at events and focusing on upcoming competitions.
For the past two years, the ROHS Dance Team has been without a coach, and therefore unable to perform. The resulting disappointment generated a high interest in reinstating the program, but the team still needed a coach. Martin was hired after her sister-in-law, ROMS Principal Kristen Meldrum, suggested that she apply for the position. Martin’s journey began in the 2023-2024 school year, with the support of ROHS Athletic Director Daniel Russell.
“Mr. Russell, the athletic director, was a huge advocate in making this happen,” Martin said.
Reinstating the ROHS Dance Team has not been without its share of challenges. One common misconception is that ROHS Cheerleading and ROHS Dance are close to, if not exactly the same thing. According to dance team members, there are multiple differences between the two sports. While cheerleading and dance both consist of flips and incorporate similar dance styles at times, the ROHS Dance Team lacks the stunts, acrobatic tricks and cheering that cheerleading includes. Instead, dance uses more turns, jumps, aerials and leaps, showcasing dancing skills and style more frequently.
“There are no stunts or cheers in dance. Instead we focus more on things like turns and leaps,” said sophomore dancer Emma Fairless.
During football games, the dance team incorporates primarily pom, jazz, and hip-hop routines into its performances. These particular half-time performances highlight the team’s synchronized motions and technical dance skills. While many have seen the dance team perform at football games, they also can be seen at boys basketball and occasionally boys varsity soccer games.
As a result of performing at multiple events, the team is required to learn one to three dances per week, depending on upcoming games.
The team’s thoughts on performing at girls sports events are open. However, due to their busy schedule, they haven’t gotten around to it.
“We would definitely be open to performing at any ROHS athletic events, girls or boys,” Martin said.
Fairless, who runs the team’s socials, said that while it’s a challenge balancing extracurricular activities with practices and performances, she’ll “miss certain studio dance and choir [events] for dance team practice.”
“It’s important to prioritize the Dance Team,” she said.
Fairless also emphasized the value the ROHS Dance Team finds in showing unity when it comes to the team, including hair, makeup, outfit, jewelry, and shoes for performances and what to wear on the day of events. Dress codes feature jerseys, blue halter tops with leggings, skirts, and specific shoes.
“We wear tennis shoes when we’re on the sideline and jazz shoes for performances or turners,” said Fairless, who looks forward to competition season.
“A very exciting event for the dance team is the competitions this winter,” she said.
The team competed on November 17th, and will participate in more competitions on January 11th, and January 18th. The team is very excited about the Pistons Classic Dance Championship held at Little Caesars Arena on January 18th. The top three teams get to perform at a Pistons game.
This year’s dance team consists of fourteen girls and one boy. In order to build interest and enthusiasm, dancers are starting camps for younger kids to get them involved. Their first camp took place on December 13th, for grades K-8.
“Getting to work with younger kids is going to be very exciting, and hopefully, get them involved with the dance team in the future,” said Fairless.
