A lesser-known but growing activity at Southern Lehigh is the dance team, which was categorized as a winter sport until this year.

“I would like for the team to be a sport,” team coach and Spanish teacher Ms. Jessica Swartz said. “But it comes with more responsibilities such as competing more and practicing more.”

Last year the team performed in two competitions; however, this year they do not have any competitions planned.

The dance team does have tryouts over two days. On the first day, auditioning students learn two dances from Ms. Swartz. Then, on the second day, they perform the dances in front of a panel of judges who grade their performance.

“I wanted to join the team because I love dancing and I really love the girls I dance with at the studio,” senior Gabrielle Koehnlein said. “So I decided to try out for the dance team since most of them did as well.”

This year, 20 girls made the team. They rehearse twice a week, once before school and once after school, in either the high school gym or the intermediate school cafeteria.

The team performs during halftime at both the girls and boys home basketball games.

“I like when we perform a new dance for the first time,” senior Sidney Boty said. “[It’s] also great when there is a big student turnout for the games.”

“My favorite part about performing is the adrenaline rush you get when there’s a big crowd, and you get nervous,” Koehnlein said. “It’s just awesome.”