BAKER — In their first year of existence at Baker School, the Gatorettes dance team, consisting of middle and high school girls, is busy performing at school sporting events.
PHOTOS: See 9 photos from the Gatorette's dance practice>>
The 12-members team performs before varsity football games and will perform during halftime at the school’s basketball games. In addition, the Gatorettes will participate in the school’s Gator Growl and homecoming parade.
“We’ve had nothing but positive feedback,” said dance coach Stacy Burlison. “Everybody is so impressed; they did not realize there is so much talent in the aspects of dance…our hope is to eventually evolve into competition.”
In addition to realizing that Baker was one of the few schools in Okaloosa County without a dance team, Burlison was also inspired by her 11-year-old daughter, Bayleigh, to organize the team. Bayleigh has prior dance experience.
“My daughter has been a dancer since she was two,” Burlison said. “She always wanted a dance team at school; she wanted to represent her school.”
Bayleigh, who is currently in the sixth grade at Baker, said the team is off to a great start in their first year.
“We are a huge family, we work together,” she said.
Bayleigh is not the only one with prior dance experience on the team. A'Lena Banks, 14, has danced competitively since grade school.
Banks, who is also active in school sports, plans to be a part of the team until she graduates.
She also agrees with Bayleigh on the dance team’s chemistry.
“Of course it’s hard working as a team…but at the end of the day we are like a family,” Banks said.
Burlison is very pleased with how the team has performed.
“We have a nice solid team. They all have a lot of potential; they work hard and work together really well,” she said.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker School’s dance team in first year (VIDEO, PHOTOS)