by Lucy Pierro, staff writer

Deeply Royal has made yet another comeback. The team recently lost their coach and found a new coach to keep the dance club intact.

Deeply Royal is a hip-hop dance club that practices every week, Monday and Wednesday, from 3pm to 5pm. It has been at HHS for about 12 years and performs for both football and basketball along with the Hopkins cheerleading and dance team.

Siona Fitzhugh, junior, joined Deeply Royal her sophomore year on a whim and has been dedicated ever since.

“I went to support my friend for her tryouts last year and I attempted the tryout dance. I ended up enjoying it so much and I fell in love with Deeply Royal right away.” Fitzhugh said.

The type of dance differentiates from the Hopkins Royelles dance team by incorporating modern-day hip-hop dance techniques into their routines and is a more student-focused team as well as being a fun outlet for HHS students.

“My favorite part about Deeply Royal is that everyone’s ideas are welcome and even though it’s hard work, it’s so much fun. It’s like a second family.” Fitzhugh said.

Ms. Jennifer Heimlich, Social Studies, was the Deeply Royal coach for seven years.

“Deeply Royal is a non-tryout team and is welcome to both boys and girls who have up to, little, or no prior dance experience. The students on the team also work together to make their own choreography.” Heimlich said.

Heimlich’s former student and 2009 HHS graduate, Tontiana Kendricks, who was apart of Deeply Royal for her Junior and Senior year, will now be the new coach.

Kendricks took her dancing to another level after high school. This led her to dancing at clubs and being a backup dancer for a number of famous celebrities such as Rick Ross, 2Chainz, Willow Smith Big Sean and more. Kendricks will be Deeply Royal’s seventh coach.

Both Deeply Royal and the Hopkins dance team have lost coaches in the past year. The Hopkins dance team wasn’t as affected because they have numerous coaches each season and Deeply Royal usually only has one coach. Not many schools offer clubs similar to Deeply Royal, so it was harder for HHS to find a new coach.

“It’s a big commitment being the coach. I think having a former student and Deeply Royal dancer like Tontiana is a great fit.” Heimlich said.