More Than a Team, Haslett Dance Team is a Family

More Than a Team, Haslett Dance Team is 
a Family

HASLETT - With the end of basketball season, comes the end of the Haslett High School dance team's season.

What makes it stand out is the chemistry between the girls on the team.

"The atmosphere with the team is just really fun, we're almost like sisters with each other," junior Mackenzie Wass said. "We're super close and always laugh with each other. It's a super fun environment."

Only in its second year, the team coached by former Pistons dance coach Rebecca Smoker might only have six members, but their skills show through practices and performances.

"I've coached many new teams before, so this is not my first, but it's great," Smoker said. "It was definitely a transition to come to an area that didn't have a dance team."

Although the team is new and small, it has grown to be popular at Haslett High School.

"The whole crowd is so great, they cheer your name every week and it's a new thing this year," senior Brisban Roumpz said. "People are just getting used to it, but they like it. The cheerleaders don't do basketball game so we're like the pep in their step in the middle of the game."

Smoker said the girls have become a family by working together.

"They're just role models at their school so where're lucky, we have a great group," Smoker said.

Not only do they come together to perfect their routines, but they rely on each other for more than learning leaps or turns.

"We can all go to each other for help or support," sophomore Emily Littleton said. "My favorite thing about the team is how close we are, we're very involved with each other and we're all super close friends."

Because they have a close bond, Roumpz said they all contribute to the moves that go into the dances.

"We are all good captains together. We all give good advice to each other and cheer each other on," Roumpz said.

The team's goal for years to come is to have a bigger team, so that the girls can perform more intricate routines.

"As a team we just have to work together to make sure that we all have it and get those fast movements and just feed off of each other's energy," Wass said.

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