While the sun hides under the horizon, and the rest of the school sleeps, the Etowah High School Dancing Eagles are wide awake, practicing for their next performance. With an impressive reputation from last year’s second place at State and a determination to continue this streak of success, the EHS Dancing Eagles are devoted to making this year their best yet.  

“I love where our dancing team has come, and I am so excited it is a varsity sport now, and there is just so much more to enjoy about it,” Tessa Liles, senior, said. 

 From 6:30 to 7:45 a.m., the EHS dancers spend two mornings a week developing intricate dances to perform during basketball game halftimes and all-day competitions. When mornings are not enough, the team holds extra workouts after school. 

“We all practice very early in the morning, but it is worth it because of how fun the team is. I love being around them, we are like a family,” Caroline Kapcsos, senior, said. 

Each member may come from a separate studio or sport, but they have one goal that unites them as a team: first place. Their next competition is on Jan. 30, and the team will spend the day doing hair, makeup, practicing, and finally performing. With COVID-19 impacting their season, the upcoming competition has shifted to a virtual event with the dancers performing via Zoom in the Etowah gym. This allows the team to social distance while safely welcoming an audience. 

“The competitions are fun because you get to spend time with your team, and I love being able to compete against other schools,” Madison Hall, freshman, said. 

Another of the teams’ main goals is to spread enthusiasm, and home basketball games are a way to show off their talent. During halftime, the 21-girl team entertains the crowd with a high-energy dance. 

“Basketball games are super fun and exciting; performing as a team for the school is something we all get super hype about, and it is always a good time,” Livy Sells, junior, said.  

With COVID-19, the team struggled to begin the season and adjust to multiple quarantines, but their focus on a victory at State has allowed them to adapt and continue to dedicate themselves.