The Meridian Fierce Dance Team dedicates nearly a year to their craft, beginning with tryouts in May and competing through February. With a team of 12 dancers and three student officers, they balance school spirit performances with intense competition preparation.
Senior Charlotte Whitaker, this year’s captain, reflected on her role: “Being captain has provided me with such an amazing opportunity to be a leader for these young women, and I am so grateful for everything the dance team has done for me.”
The team performs at pep rallies, select sporting events, and three competitions each season. This past weekend, on February 1st, they competed in their first event of the 2024–2025 school year: the Cedar Park Solo and Ensemble Competition.
Lieutenant Captain Naomi Rubio shared her excitement about the event:
“Our first competition was an amazing experience and a great way to start the season. Even leading up to the big day, I was so proud of all the girls working so hard—it showed in our performance. Placing in most of our dances and hearing our names called for awards is a feeling like no other. It brings a sense of pride for me, and I’m sure for everyone else on the team. I’m optimistic about our future competitions and confident they’ll go just as well, if not better, than the last.”
The team earned first, second, and third place in the public high school medium ensemble category for their team dances, as well as third place in the public high school small ensemble category for their officer trio. Their routines were choreographed by Whitaker, Rubio, and freshman lieutenant Abby Gonzalez. They have two more competitions in February: the Leander Winter Dance Classic and the Vista Ridge Dance Championship.
Beyond competition, the Fierce Dance Team plays a key role in fostering school spirit and community engagement. They host a winter dance clinic for elementary students interested in dance, perform at the Arts and Science Showcase to highlight their routines from the school year and assist with morning carline duty once a month to greet students with enthusiasm.
“The dance team is a big part of the Meridian community,” said Gonzalez. “We impact the student body through the relationships we build within the team. The spirit we have carries over to the rest of the school when they see our performances at pep rallies or games.”
As a highly visible group on campus, team members are expected to be role models, embodying the IB learner profile traits both in and out of school. Sophomore Alyssa Henry noted, “I always see them portraying the IB trait of caring, and they are always enthusiastic about the community and their team.”
With a strong start to the season and months of dedication behind them, the Fierce Dance Team continues showcasing their talent and commitment to excellence. As they head into their next competitions, their hard work, creativity, and teamwork will undoubtedly continue to shine.