Last Friday, the Pantherettes performed for the first time this year under the Friday night lights, opening with the younger dancers from the Little Girls camp.

It’s that time of year again for varsity sports, as the team is back at home for athletic events. After coming just short in the state finals last season, the Pantherettes performed during the home opener for the varsity football team against Munster, joined by their youth counterparts, the Jr. Pantherettes. “The overall experience was great, being able to perform with the younger kids and seeing how much they learned from the camp,” said Kayla Bell.

Little Girls camp was hosted Aug. 25–27, where varsity members helped teach participants everything they needed to know about dancing at the high school level. Over the course of the camp, the group learned about team bonding along with basic skills to excel in the sport.

The Pantherettes are preparing for their annual showcase, tentatively set for Dec. 7, and will have a short routine you can learn prior. Winning isn’t new to the team, which has made state the past three years, along with three regional wins and one duet state appearance, most recently placing second last year.

Dancing itself doesn’t seem hard, but you’d be surprised at the amount of work it takes to reach an average level. “Practices can last up to four hours. All of it is worth it in the long run. Our main goal as of right now is to prepare for our showcase this December,” said head coach Rebecca Starks.