Starting next fall, the dance team will be required to stay on the football field during games alongside the cheerleaders and to use pom poms in their performances.

According to assistant principal Jason Wilson, rather than the dance team getting to leave after they perform at halftime the dance team is required to stay for the full game

“In the past what was happening was the dance team was performing at halftime and then leaving,” Wilson said. “Cheer is working the whole time, band is working; now we’re cutting cheer’s time short, band’s time short there in the stands performing and dance goes in at halftime with no commitment.”

According to Wilson, the reason behind this was to enhance the feeling of school spirit at sporting events throughout the school year. Rather than just being a minimalistic part of the experience, it will put more of an emphasis on the actual performance.

“It’s being a part of the festivities rather than being a highlight. I think it’s the right thing to do,” Wilson said. “With our Tiger Cage and everyone else involved and working together, I feel like it would look and feel really fun. That is really what we are looking to build.”

Sophomore dance team member Meaghan Parker is lookng forward to the new rules for the team.

“I’m so excited all the other schools do it and I’m glad we’re doing it. All the other schools are doing it, and we can be one big group rather than a dance team and cheer team,” Parker said.

Junior dance captain Lauren Roberts has high hopes for the new element pom-poms will add to the dance team’s performances at the games.

“I find it really positive because we normally just do jazz and hip-hop so I think it will really keep the audience on their feet, not knowing what we are going to do,” Roberts said. “A lot of the other high schools in the area do this and I think it’s going to be really fun and bring a new element our dance team.”

This change is accompanied by a new replacement dance coach for Felicia Fry, who left to take care of her child.

Next school year will be Jeni Vanhorn’s first year as head coach for Roseville High School’s dance team.

Vanhorn has previously coached before at different schools and studios, but has not been a head coach at RHS yet.

Although, it is not Vanhorn’s first time coaching a dance team, she is still very excited to work and grow with the members of the team.

“This is not my first dance team coaching. I’ve coached other dance teams so I’ve had a lot of experience,” Vanhorn said. “I’m excited for a new adventure and a new journey with the girls.”

Many of the dance members enjoy having Vanhorn as a coach. Senior Abi Haupt, has previously worked with Vanhorn outside of school and loves working with her.

“I love her, I’ve worked with her outside at a studio,” Haupt said. “She’s amazing, she has amazing choreography and many of the girls love her.”

Although it may be Haupt’s last year of dance, she believes the dance team will have a great season next year and is very excited for the new opportunities that await them.

“I’m extremely jealous of the new team,” Haupt said. “They’re gonna have a great year and they’re gonna have a good season and I’m excited for them.”

According to Gomez, Vanhorn and Fry’s different teaching styles will help the students grow as dancers.

“I feel like they kinda have the same personality,” Gomez said. “But [Vanhorn] has a different dance style and she’s more like jazzy and our other coach was more like more like ballet.”