The James Monroe Middle School dance team, the Raptorettes, are making their way to their final competition for the 2016-2017 school year. The Raptorettes will be competing in the 2017 Razzle Dazzle Spring Fest on April 29 at 3pm at Bernalillo School . As the competition approaches, the team led by Sofia Jenson and Ciana Giron is working to perfect the routines they plan to compete.
The team consisting of sixth, seventh, and eighth graders has been practicing on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15 to 5:30 each week in the cafeteria to memorize and make their routine look flawless. The Raptorettes’ practice includes stretching, memorizing the choreography, and performing it in groups in front of their teammates.
“I feel really good about our competition. We have been working really hard and we are all ready” says Mariah Gutierrez, a seventh grader on the dance team. They will compete two routines, a pom routine and a jazz routine. The team has worked on their pom-style routine since January, and feel confident in the routine that they have competed before in March. However, their jazz routine is new to them, since they have only worked on it for about two months.
The dance team has previously competed in the Razzle Dazzle Spring Fest. They have competed in the 2015 and 2016 Spring Fest competitions, taking first in each and even taking the title of “Grand Champion” in the 2015 Spring Fest. Coach Sofia Jenson is confident in her team, and says they plan to take first again. The team will be competing against Roosevelt Middle School in both categories.
After their competition on April 29, the team will have completed their season. “I will miss this team because of all of the friendships your form and bonds with your coaches,” says Audrey Perez, an eighth grader at the school who has been a member of the team since she was in sixth grade. The team will have their end of the year party in May, marking the end of the 2016-2017 Raptorettes Dance Team.
The team consisting of sixth, seventh, and eighth graders has been practicing on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15 to 5:30 each week in the cafeteria to memorize and make their routine look flawless. The Raptorettes’ practice includes stretching, memorizing the choreography, and performing it in groups in front of their teammates.
“I feel really good about our competition. We have been working really hard and we are all ready” says Mariah Gutierrez, a seventh grader on the dance team. They will compete two routines, a pom routine and a jazz routine. The team has worked on their pom-style routine since January, and feel confident in the routine that they have competed before in March. However, their jazz routine is new to them, since they have only worked on it for about two months.
The dance team has previously competed in the Razzle Dazzle Spring Fest. They have competed in the 2015 and 2016 Spring Fest competitions, taking first in each and even taking the title of “Grand Champion” in the 2015 Spring Fest. Coach Sofia Jenson is confident in her team, and says they plan to take first again. The team will be competing against Roosevelt Middle School in both categories.
After their competition on April 29, the team will have completed their season. “I will miss this team because of all of the friendships your form and bonds with your coaches,” says Audrey Perez, an eighth grader at the school who has been a member of the team since she was in sixth grade. The team will have their end of the year party in May, marking the end of the 2016-2017 Raptorettes Dance Team.