Being a part of the Hopkins dance team has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. I switched into the Hopkins district during my sophomore year of high school and joined the team immediately. The second I joined this team I made the strongest bonds and met life long best friends.

Being on this team has taught me a sense of work ethic and teamwork that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I have worked to gain skills in jazz and kick dancing, building strength technique and power. But my dancing skills are not the only thing that has improved since joining this team. I have learned a deep sense of sisterhood. A passion for uplifting those around me, and a sense of pride in myself and my team. This past season was particularly special, not only was I dancing with my best friends, but we were working above and beyond to achieve our goals. I will use that experience as a goalpost for my future and how I want to walk through this world. With pride, resilience and connection to the people around me.

I am so proud to be a part of this team and this program. Being a Hopkins Royelle is something so special. This loving, passionate community has made me a better dancer, friend and person. I will forever cherish the memories and friendships I have made on this team and I am so proud to be a part of this family.

Being part of HRDT has been an incredibly meaningful and transformative experience in my dance journey. Over the past year, I have learned so much; not just about dancing, but about dedication, teamwork, and leadership. Surrounded by such hardworking and talented teammates inspires and reminds me why I love what I do.

I am deeply grateful to the dancers, coaches, and teachers who guided, challenged, and believed in me along the way. Dancing alongside this driven group has been nothing short of incredible. I could not have asked for a better team.

I would like to thank my coaches for your guidance both inside and outside the gym, and for helping me grow both as a dancer and as a person. A special shout out to my family at Project 52 Dance Company. Your encouragement, mentorship, and inspiration have helped shape me into the dancer I am today. Words cannot express how thankful I am for your endless support and belief you have shown me throughout my journey. Finally, thank you to my family for your constant support through every year of dance. You have been my foundation and motivation.

I am so proud to be part of the HRDT family and am looking forward to finishing my dance career with this amazing team. 

Being a part of HRDT has impacted my life forever. Ever since I was young, I’ve wanted to dance. From the moment four-year-old me stepped into my first ballet class, I knew the stage was where I belonged. As I continued my journey, I learned more about myself, and by Middle School I knew I wanted to be a Royelle. I wasn’t familiar with kick at first, but I’ve come to love it, especially competing in both jazz and kick.

My 4 years as a Royelle have flown by. What once felt like a room full of strangers became a circle of mentors, friends, and coaches pushing me to kick higher, point my feet, and give my all. Dance hasn’t just taught me skills; it’s given me courage, ideas, and the drive to keep going even when it’s hard. I’ve learned that progress comes from persistence, showing up even when every muscle aches. With dedication, I’ve discovered how growth and good habits build a strong future.

HRDT showed me that dance is more than movement, it’s a language and a form of expression. Each step has taught me to trust my body’s strength. I’ve become mentally and physically stronger, more resilient, and more confident.

Most of all, HRDT has nurtured my creativity and shaped how I face challenges, relationships, and the world around me. I’m grateful for the bonds I’ve created with my teammates and coaches, for the laughs, chaotic bus rides, and competitions full of memories.

Thank you to my coaches, especially Coach Abby, and to my family for your constant love and support. I’ll always cherish this journey and the friendships it’s given me as I look forward to my next chapter.

I have been a part of the royelles dance team for 6 years but it feels like I’ve been a part of the family for a lot longer. From participating in all of the youth dance clinics to watching my friends in higher grades join the team, all of that drove my love for dance.

I had never formally been trained in dance before joining the team. I was on b-squad for the first 2 years and my coaches back then pushed me to the most of my potential. I worked hard in and out of practice to reach that potential, and now I have been a member of the varsity team for my 4 years of high school. My second year on varsity was the first time we went to state for 13 years. That year was a major shift in team culture. We not only felt like a team but like a family of best friends. I am so grateful to get to be a part of a team where I get to be with my best friends all of the time.

When I got my second spine surgery after my freshman year, it was the support of my teammates that gave me the strength to get back into dancing as quickly as I was able to. 

My favorite memory is our clarity circle from last year's jazz. That song was our anthem of the year and brought us together so that we could reach our goals as one. I love being on this team because I know I will always be surrounded by people who uplift each other and take care of one another.

I want to give a special thank you to my mom for all of her support. She has sacrificed so much time, money, and energy supporting my sister and I. I am so thankful for the countless nights she has spent rhinestoning costumes and working on super fan shirts. I love you! 

I am going to miss this team so much, but I am so grateful for all of the memories I have made and skills that I have learned from this team. 

Being a dancer on HRDT is a choice I will never regret. This team is made up of the most hardworking and self-driven dancers I’ve ever had the privilege to work with. I came from a small studio where we trained in Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, and Hip Hop. While both studio dance and dance team involve performing as part of a group, the styles are completely different.

I joined HRDT in 7th grade after my sister kept urging me to try out. At first, I resisted and I wanted to focus on my journey at the studio. But my mom signed me up despite my protests, and I’m so glad she did. Adjusting to the dance team style was tough. Learning to be sharp yet soft was a challenge coming from a purely studio-based background. Kick, in particular, was especially difficult. It's a style that demands not only personal strength but also trust and synchronization with your teammates to push through the routine. Even though I didn’t want to be on the team at first, I quickly grew to love it. Everything about HRDT, the coaches, the routines, and even the small habits we share made it feel more like a family than just a team.

I’ve learned so much, like how to uplift your teammates even when you’re not in the best mood, and how small things like staying positive during tough practices can make a big difference. HRDT has helped shape me into the dancer and person I am today. I’m truly grateful for my teammates, my coaches, and my parents for making it possible to continue this incredible journey.

If I remember anything from high school, it’s how special HRDT was. I have made so many fun memories and had the best experiences with them. Coming from a very competitive studio life, I was always so hesitant to join the dance team. I was worried it would be too much for me, and it was the exact opposite. After a lot of convincing from Piper and Marisa, I finally joined my sophomore year, and it was the best decision I ever made.

Ever since joining, I have made so many friends and found a family that I am forever grateful for. They have seen my best and my worst, but have never given up on me. My first year on the team was a dream. We went from placing 3rd in the first-time jazz to the state floor for the first time in 13 years. My rookie year is something I will never take for granted and cherish forever.

This team has the most passion and drive I have ever seen, and it's what gets us so far. We always stick together and do it as a team, and that is what stood out to me over the past 3 years. Not only are they my teammates, but they are also my best friends. They have always supported me, and I will forever be there for them.

I will forever love the Royelles dance team and always hold a special place in my heart for every memory I have made with them. I love you, HRDT.

The Hopkins Royelles Dance team will always hold a special place in my heart, and has shaped me into who I am today. After my freshman year, I decided to switch schools and join a new dance team. Although joining a completely new team was scary, and many times I just wanted to stay where I was comfortable–it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Adjusting to a new team, new people and a new atmosphere was so much easier than I could have imagined. I felt like I fit right in just after my first few weeks. Being a part of this team has taught me to have such a strong work ethic and has surrounded me with the hardest-working and most dedicated people that make the long practices and long meet days all worth it. I get to dance beside my best friends every day and I couldn't be more thankful for that.

This team is more than an after school sport, it is a family that I will forever be grateful for. Thank you to my  teammates and coaches for making this such a positive experience for me. I will never forget the feeling of making it to state after all of our hard work. The memories we have created together and the bonds I have made on this team are truly special and will stick with me forever.

Thank you to my parents for always supporting me and making this all possible I wouldn’t be where I am without you.