Black Magic Steps It Up

Ashley Scarborough, staff

What does dance mean to you? To some people, dance isn’t important; however, to other people, dance is their whole life.

Coach Teresa Bartlett said, “Dance is an artistic sport. I’ve had several people, including my son, who look at cheer and dance as if it’s not a sport, but it is. It is a way to showcase women’s talent and grace.”

Bartlett has been coaching the team for two years.

The SBHS has four types of dances, hip-hop, jazz, pom and kick, that they perform throughout the season. Competitive dance ended in October, but the dancers are still busy throughout the year, teaching middle and elementary school aged students how to dance, as well as holding various fundraisers.

Anyone can start dancing at any age, but if they’re looking for a serious career in dancing, it is best to start younger, around the age of six. If they are looking to learn, achieve, better themselves, exercise or reach personal goals, dance can fill those needs.

Dancing requires specific body types, talent and professional training that is not fit for everyone. However, passion can set a dancer apart from anyone else.

“My passion for dance is almost indescribable. I never got acknowledged for being a “good” dancer until I was in 8th grade, because I was always overshadowed by someone else,” Foreign Exchange Student Eline Vo (12) said. “From that point on my passion for dance just grew bigger and bigger every day. I could finally see that hard work pays off. I constantly want to improve my dancing and could do it every second of the hour. Dance is my number one priority and I just simply love it.”

Dance is not recognized at Sturgis as much as the other sports are, but, to the athletes involved, it is just as important as any other sport.

“I do wish dance was more recognized at Sturgis because of the fact that these girls work hard at what they do,” Karlee Smith (12) said. “People think dance isn’t a sport, but these girls put in as much sweat, tears, work and dedication as the next person in the any sport does.”

For those individuals who participate in dance, however, there are several opportunities outside of school to engage in the art.

Lia Malcolm, owner of Dance Elite in Rapid City, has been teaching dance since she retired from the stage in 2005. She teaches approximately six classes a day for all ages, from pre-elementary to seniors in high school.

The easiest group for her to teach is teenagers because she is so used to teaching professionals and that’s the closest she can get. Malcolm teaches young, energetic dancers by gearing all the energy they have into making them able to dance in ways that they never thought they could before.

Malcolm was a dancer for the Royal Ballet in the United Kingdom, and made a living off of dancing for over 30 years

“It’s a natural transition for most professionals to go into teaching dance, as they have experienced life as a dancer,” Malcolm said.

Coach Bartlett was also a dancer on her high school’s dance team.

Many dancers would agree that dancing is an art form that allows them to have an outlet.

Breanna Fairbanks (9) said, “Dance is a way of letting go of anger and getting your mind off of things.”

“I continue to dance because as I get older and see the real word, I’ve started to realize how cruel and dark it can be,” Smith said. “Dance makes me forget how cruel the world is, and in that two minute period of a song it looks beautiful again.”

Jayden Myrick (9), Gracey Shelly (10), Cailyn Ratzsch (10). Row two: Breanna Fairbanks (9), Jaedra Woldt (9), Carly Christianson (10), Vanessa Swallow (10). Row three: Karlee Smith (12), Caitlyn Emick (11), Taya Swanson (12), Eline Vo (12). The Black Magic Dance Team performing one of their Pom dances at a Competitive competition in Sturgis. photo by staff