High school students attending training camps during the summer break is not uncommon.
Hundreds of local students ship off for a brief time to gain inspiration and instruction under the direction of professionals. Sports, cheer, band and academic camps prepare students to master new concepts and mature to put a better product out on the field and in the classroom. However, it is rare that a camp prepares you to hear the phrase, “You’ve been invited to perform at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York City.”
Yet that is exactly how the scenario played out for Wimberley High School’s 2022 edition of the Texan Stars. The WHS dance team was reinstituted in 2016 to give Sheridan Roalson’s Wimberley Dance Elite dancers a way to more deeply connect with their school, peers and community. Roalson and Elite’s artistic director Lowery Walker serve as directors and coordinators for the team’s activities, building and leading the team.
The ShowMakers of America camp provides training focused on precision, technique, team-building and leadership for high school dance and drill teams. By participating this past summer, the Stars’ dancers learned routines and qualified for the opportunity to take part in the parade based on their scores for technical competence and overall performance. Raising money to get the team to New York became the next challenge.
Fundraising began with Walker setting up a platform to receive donations. Working in the community, the Stars took part in September’s Tailgating with the Texans. They hosted a minicamp for future Texan Stars – the Starlettes – who performed at halftime during the Texan football Senior Night activities. The dance team also found incredible support from the Wimberley community, especially from numerous dance and football moms and businesses, which allowed the trip to proceed.
“Our team was able to go to New York City and perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade,” said senior all-star dancer and lieutenant Saraya Manning. “While there, we were taught new choreography from professionals and learned how to dance at a different level.”
“The trip to New York City was a dancer’s dream come true. There are so many opportunities in New York,” shared senior all-star dancer and captain Lynzee Walker. “Seeing professional dancers in the MJ the Musical show and the Rockettes was so inspiring. It motivates me to pursue dance even further.”
The Stars proved a valuable addition to this year’s UIL Marching Contests, providing movement and unique choreography to the Texan Marching Band’s NEVERMORE show.
“This was an all new opportunity because we got to dance while the band members were playing and moving around us. This also gave us the chance to perform a different style of dance, lyrical, as we’re used to doing hip hop at pep rallies and jazz or pom for halftime shows,” said Manning.
“Being a dancer for the band was an amazing experience. I loved every moment I spent with band members whether it was during rehearsals, competitions or outside of school,” remarked Walker. “Bringing dance to the band performance gave a visual aspect to the show which added to the overall effect.”
The Texan Stars Dance Team continues work to complete their financial goals. Saturday, Dec 3, they are offering a Parents’ Day Out from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Wimberley Dance Elite studio, 100 Melody Way. Details are available at wimberleydanceelite. com.
