Capri Scarcelli, Editor in Chief

P-T’s new dance team, the Warriorettes, are plunging into performances during their first year.  

 Dance instructor Jessica Larson organized the club team in order to give students the opportunity to take their talents and apply them to a scholastic setting.

“I started inquiring, and it spurred me to want that for the community. It meant so much to me in high school and I want that for those who want it for themselves too,” Larson said.

Larson started dance when she was seven years old, sticking strictly to ballet. By high school, Larson said she was opened up to jazz, tap, hip hop and other classes as well, which is what inspired her to major in dance in college. She has helped with various dance camps, and said she is “thankful the school gave [the team] this opportunity.”

  Senior Tea Santilli said she was excited to join the Warriorettes because it gave her an opportunity to meet new people and allowed her to dance not only outside of school, but for the school as well.

  Santilli has been dancing at the competitive level since she was 10 years old.

  “I believe we have a lot of potential, especially because it’s our first year and we are doing a lot already, so I think it will grow every year,” Santilli said.

    According to Larson, the Warriorettes performed at Kennywood in August and in Harrison City’s Fall Festival Parade. Larson is also working with Athletic Director Kerry Hetrick for future performances at P-T’s varsity sporting events in both the fall and spring, such as girls’ and boys’ soccer, girls’ field hockey and more.

    Auditions were held in May, according to Larson, and will be held at the same time this school year.

 “The girls [who were interested] went online and submitted a form so I would know who was coming to the audition” Larson said. “Dance technique is recommended; I asked them to do splits, pirouettes on both [their] right leg and left left leg, high kick sequences, fan kicks, and they did learn a dance that had turns and leaps in it– very technical elements of dance.”

Sophomore Mia DeFazio dances at Premier Performing Arts and takes ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary and pointe. She said that “anyone with the love of dance is welcome to audition. Dance experience is also appreciated.”

   Santilli said rehearsals are every Wednesday from 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m., where the girls will go over new and old material as well as what sequences they will be performing at upcoming events.

  Larson also said that because each girl on the team dances at their respective studios, they have the opportunity to practice their skills inside and outside of the Warriorettes.

   “The dancers on this team are very good; they all have danced pretty much their whole lives,” Larson said. “Their love and passion for dance comes out in their faces, even when they’re practicing you can just feel their energy of how excited they are and how much they love to perform.”

   DeFazio said that the group is “already like a family.”

 “I’d love [for] P-T to support The Warriorettes and try out in the spring next year!” she said.