As spring arrives in Wright City, the high school dance team, known as the Wright City Royals, concludes another successful season. The team has been an integral part of the community, showcasing their talents through basketball game performances and hosting kid's clinics.

Taylor Dougan, the dance team coach for the past five years, anticipates an increase in student participation in the coming years, especially with the addition of a new high school. 

The 2023-24 dance season kicked off in July with a week-long dance camp, where students had the opportunity to learn new skills and routines to perform at their high school. The team members fundraised throughout the year to attend the camp, making the experience highly rewarding for all participants. Zoё Ervin and Veda Bollenbach were nominated for the All-American dance team, with Ervin securing a spot on the team. Alyssa Schulte received a spirit award, while N. Mann earned the pin it forward award. The team also received a technical growth award for their improvement during the week.

Throughout the year, the team delivered numerous halftime performances at basketball games, which is where Nicole Nunez-Cruz (11), a second-year dance member, first witnessed the team's dedication. 

"I admired their work ethic, and wanted to be a part of that. One of my favorite things about dance is that in the end, everyone has an awesome time together, no matter what," Nunez-Cruz said.

Dakota Dalton (11), who joined the team in their sophomore year, also shared their experience. 

"I was looking to join more activities. After seeing their performances at school assemblies, I thought it'd be worth a shot. I quickly discovered how accepting and supportive the team is compared to other sports, and want to continue bringing that feeling of encouragement to the team as a senior next year," Dalton said.

Dougan highlighted the team's strong performance in competitions during the 23-24 season, participating in three events and securing placements ranging from 5th to 2nd. 

Six dancers - N. Mann, Nicole Lotspeich, Zoё Ervin, Veda Bollenbach, Nicole Nunez-Cruz, and Dakota Dalton - earned Academic All-State awards.

During senior night, the team celebrated the departing seniors: Nicole Lotspeich, Zoё Ervin, and Nate Mann. Lotspeich (12) expressed her appreciation for the team's positive atmosphere, stating, "Dance is one of the only sports I've participated in where everyone interacts positively with each other. It's easy to see everyone on the team genuinely cares for each other, even if we might disagree at times."

Jenna Fenwick (9), a freshman on the dance team, emphasized the importance of trust among teammates. 

"A huge challenge is that you have to trust everyone on the team to do their jobs. Once you get past that though, everything comes together a lot easier," Fenwick said. 

Fenwick also shared her aspirations for personal growth, stating, "Since I've been on the team for a year now, I feel like I can start to work on being even sharper and having more impactful movements."

As the Wright City Royals dance team looks ahead to the future, they remain committed to fostering a supportive environment and making a positive impact on their school and community.