Dance seniors finish season strong: Hopes for Royelles in the future are promising

It has been a successful last season for The Royelle seniors: Lauren Goodman, Abby Doeden, Megan Carlson, Lily Day, Amanda Natoli, and Taylor Rosenzweig. The Royelles took 5th at sections on February 4th in both kick and jazz.

All of the seniors are sad to see their final season come to an end but were able to reflect on the successes and fun times that they have had as a team these past years.

“I think this past season has been the most successful because our team felt very unified and everyone really seemed to believe in ourselves,” Carlson, captain, who has been on the team for five years, said.

The Royelles have dancers from 7th grade through 12th grade so all the seniors believe that they have learned valuable lessons about responsibility, confidence, and friendship while being on the team.

“I have gained a lot of responsibility from having to not only care about myself, but also an entire group of girls. I’ve also learned incredible work ethic and to keep working for what I want even though it seems so impossible,” Goodman, captain, who has been on the team for five years, said.

The dance team has also taught a lot of leadership skills to the seniors. Being the oldest on the team out of six grades takes a lot of responsibility and those have to be willing to be a good role model for the younger girls. It also takes a lot of work to be able to grow as a team and be confident in the dances.

“From dance team I have gained leadership and confidence. The team has a variation of different grades so as an upperclassman I really needed to step up and be a role model and leader to the younger girls. I gained confidence as I saw myself improve and my teammates improve because I knew it meant we were making our coaches and each other proud,” Natoli, who has been on the team for three years, said.

However, the team isn’t only about the dancing. The seniors shared some of their favorite parts about being on the team and some didn’t have to do with the dancing at all, just the sense of community and passion for the same sport.

“Becoming closer with teammates throughout the season through sleepovers and meals and just general bonding was my favorite part about being on the team,” Day, who has been on the team for three years, said.

There were also a lot of fun and exhilarating aspects of being on the team.

“My favorite part of the team was being able to go out on the floor and perform with my team. The feeling you get before, during, and after you dance is indescribable and the most amazing feeling in the world because you know that you were out there with your team giving it all you’ve got,” Rosenzweig, captain, who has been on the team for six years, said.

The team helped all of the seniors feel proud and confident and re-enforced their love for dance.

“Every time I went out on that floor I felt so confident in myself and the people around me,” Doeden, captain, who has been on the team for five years, said.

The season truly wouldn’t have been the same without the six incredible seniors on the Royelles. Luckily, Doeden, Goodman, Rosenzweig, Natoli, and Carlson all plan on continuing their dance careers and look forward to their futures in dance.