M
msl529
Dd is going to try out for the High School Drill Team this week, and I am more nervous than she is!
Background: The are 85+ girls on this team, and most have been competitive dancers for years. It is VERY hard to get onto the Varsity squad w/ no dance background (which dd doesn't really have, just what she got doing floor routines in artistic).
Several times in her life, dd has been able to squeak into things without "doing the time". Like, when she started competing L4 Artistic, she had only been in gymnastics for half a year. She's like my hubby that way, athletically. They will pick up something they've never tried and ace it. Dang them!
But anyhow, she has try-out practices all week to learn a dance routine, a technique combination, and a high kick routine. Then they try out on Friday. They have to achieve a certain score to make it, there is not cut-off for how many girls can be on the team. So, if 100 girls can acheive the score, then 100 girls make it. A next group of girls who make a slightly lower score (I forget the cut-off) will make it onto the Junior Varsity Team.
She (& I) would love for her to make Varsity. They perform at the Friday nite Varsity Football Games (which everyone in town attends, football is HUGE here), Pep Rallys, and go to dance competitions in the Spring. There is a lot of prestige that comes w/ being on Varsity Drill Team.
Junior Varsity performs at the JV Football games on Thursday nites, does not compete in the Spring, and is a bit more low-key. The low-key part is good, but in a way, we will be busier, b/c she will perform Thursday nites, and then she'll want to attend the Varsity games on Fridays w/ all of her friends.
In addition, she hopes to still do T&T in some way. I am letting that one play itself out, as I think she will be too busy to do it all. But I know she will come to that conclusion on her own, so I'm not forcing the issue right now. She could conceivably do one event for T&T (like Tumbling), and only have to go one night a week, which is why Varsity would be a little better for her. Then, we only have two nights out per week (one gym nite and Fridays). If she makes JV, then it's one gym nite, Thursdays, and Fridays that she is out & about. That's getting tight!
Of course, she may not even make JV, in which case this is all a moot point, ha-ha!
She showed me the technique combo, and it includes quite a few types of turns/leaps she's never even tried! The dance, if she can manage to learn it in time (they are moving really fast!), I think she can manage to make herself look like somewhat of a good dancer. The kicks will be no prob, and they also have to demonstrate BOTH leg splits for one minute each, which she can do.
Just had to worry aloud, and even though this is not gym-related, I know you all can relate to how I'm feeling. Kind of like wanting your dd to move up a level when they don't really have all the skills! As always, I say, what will be, will be.
Thanks all!
Background: The are 85+ girls on this team, and most have been competitive dancers for years. It is VERY hard to get onto the Varsity squad w/ no dance background (which dd doesn't really have, just what she got doing floor routines in artistic).
Several times in her life, dd has been able to squeak into things without "doing the time". Like, when she started competing L4 Artistic, she had only been in gymnastics for half a year. She's like my hubby that way, athletically. They will pick up something they've never tried and ace it. Dang them!
But anyhow, she has try-out practices all week to learn a dance routine, a technique combination, and a high kick routine. Then they try out on Friday. They have to achieve a certain score to make it, there is not cut-off for how many girls can be on the team. So, if 100 girls can acheive the score, then 100 girls make it. A next group of girls who make a slightly lower score (I forget the cut-off) will make it onto the Junior Varsity Team.
She (& I) would love for her to make Varsity. They perform at the Friday nite Varsity Football Games (which everyone in town attends, football is HUGE here), Pep Rallys, and go to dance competitions in the Spring. There is a lot of prestige that comes w/ being on Varsity Drill Team.
Junior Varsity performs at the JV Football games on Thursday nites, does not compete in the Spring, and is a bit more low-key. The low-key part is good, but in a way, we will be busier, b/c she will perform Thursday nites, and then she'll want to attend the Varsity games on Fridays w/ all of her friends.
In addition, she hopes to still do T&T in some way. I am letting that one play itself out, as I think she will be too busy to do it all. But I know she will come to that conclusion on her own, so I'm not forcing the issue right now. She could conceivably do one event for T&T (like Tumbling), and only have to go one night a week, which is why Varsity would be a little better for her. Then, we only have two nights out per week (one gym nite and Fridays). If she makes JV, then it's one gym nite, Thursdays, and Fridays that she is out & about. That's getting tight!
Of course, she may not even make JV, in which case this is all a moot point, ha-ha!
She showed me the technique combo, and it includes quite a few types of turns/leaps she's never even tried! The dance, if she can manage to learn it in time (they are moving really fast!), I think she can manage to make herself look like somewhat of a good dancer. The kicks will be no prob, and they also have to demonstrate BOTH leg splits for one minute each, which she can do.
Just had to worry aloud, and even though this is not gym-related, I know you all can relate to how I'm feeling. Kind of like wanting your dd to move up a level when they don't really have all the skills! As always, I say, what will be, will be.
Thanks all!
