The club team, open to students in Grades 9-12, performs a variety of hip-hop, jazz, and poms-style dances, says Jamie DeMarco, head coach. The team currently performs a pre-game show and “mini-clips” of dance routines at each home football game; and, this winter, the team will perform at home varsity wrestling matches.
Team members include seniors Jordan Banks (spirit captain), Jenna Coulter (dance captain), Olivia Hanlon (dance captain), Rayna Halper, Tia Kay (spirit captain), Addison Keys, Alex Organ and Gillian Porter; juniors Claire Felice, Maddie Leachman and Taylor Tumulty; sophomores Emma Bostedo, Sophia Darocy, Gianna DePretis, Riley Hoadley, Dalaney James, Gabrianna Salvini, Mia Sinicki and Ella Tirch; and, freshmen Elli DeMarco (dance captain), Elianna Maher-Thakur and Elyse Wingertsahn (dance captain).
With the introduction of a team, Mars Area School District joins the ranks of several local school districts — Butler Area, North Allegheny, Pine-Richland and Seneca Valley — that already have dance teams.
“There are not a lot of female-based activities that are not a sport,” says DeMarco, who served as choreographer for Mars Area High School’s last three spring musicals and noticed a growing interest among students in forming a school dance team. “The dance team is a great way for students to be involved and also get prepared if they desire to try out for a college team.”
“Our ultimate goal is to bring more positive school spirit and, along the way, give back to the surrounding community,” says Jamie DeMarco, head coach. “We have many plans in the making that we are excited for.”
In the future, Demarco hopes to establish a Junior High Team, a Grades 9-10 Team, and a Grades 11-12 Team. In addition, she would also like to take the team to the competitive level.
The Varsity Dance Team will next perform at the 2021 Mars Area High School Homecoming Parade at 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 1, in Downtown Mars; and prior to the Homecoming Football Game at approximately 6:40 p.m. at Mars Athletic Complex.
For more information, call (724) 625-9380.