Geneva’s Dance Team is holding tryouts for their JV and Varsity teams this upcoming May sixth through ninth at GHS. Both teams, the varsity team specifically, have enjoyed success recently, and are hoping to extend their run of good performance3 in the 2024-2025 season.
Returning members of the JV and Varsity Dance Teams are required to tryout along with newcomers. This way dancers who have improved can earn the opportunity to perform at a higher level. During the tryouts, the coaches are building their teams completely from scratch, and they look for specifics in the dancers.
“We look for dancers with a mix of a strong technical background as well as mature and powerful movement quality,” Amy Vanwagenen, 11-year GVDT varsity coach, said. “Those elements of dance have been areas we have prided ourselves on for years and we want to keep the tradition alive of performing dances with a ‘wow’ factor in both artistry, technical, and athletic skill.”
Freshman Emily Johnson, who danced on this year’s Varsity team, is one of the many who must audition and prove herself again for the next season.
“I am so excited to audition, obviously nervous, but can’t wait to hopefully add some new members on the team,” she said.
The Varsity Dance Team, GVDT for short, is known for being one of the best high school dance teams in the country. They won tenth in the nation and second in their category at the 2024 UDA Nationals in Orlando, Florida this past January.
“I would say going nationals was the best memory this season,” Johnson said. “Having the opportunity to compete against teams all around the nation and being so lucky to take tenth home, was the best take away. My first year on this hard-working team was so inspiring, and I can’t wait to hopefully inspire the incoming freshman.”
Continuing the dance team legacy is very important to the dancers and coaches. They are excited to see who the newcomers will be and if the next season will emulate their past success.
“A new start is always exciting,” Vanwagenen said. “The dancers push themselves hard leading up to and during tryouts, and it’s really fun to watch the girls perform as individuals as opposed to cleaning a routine to compete. It’s also fun to see new personalities and see how they might intermix with the current dancers on the team! It’s all very exciting, it’s one of my favorite weeks of the year!”
Along with Vanwagenen, there are many eighth graders excited for these tryouts and who are excited to get a taste of what high school could be like for them. Most incoming freshmen who tryout make JV, and only one in five make varsity. Dancers usually train for years specifically with the goal in mind to make GVDT.
“I want to audition because it is a good high school experience, and I want to be a part of the football games,” Incoming Freshman and auditioner, Emily Stormer, said.
Since GVDT is seen as an elite group, many Geneva dancers are interested in joining. There are plenty of aspects that are unique about this group of dancers that many people notice when they see how they perform and work together.
“My favorite thing about GVDT is how much everyone buys into the team and the mission,” Vanwagenen said. “The work ethic and determination to reach a goal is really special and I always think the best memories are made during those times of extremely hard work. The team mentality is really cool to witness in dancers so young. Plus, the girls are all really funny and great people so they’re a group that I love to be around.”
The GVDT has a legacy of winning, but that doesn’t stop them from being excited to welcome the newcomers as well as friendly faces. The team supports each other and their dreams as dancers.
“I have no clue what I would do without dance,” Johnson said. “Dancing has always made me feel better.”
