Weird Choreography

When the Bishop Carroll pom squad stepped out onto the field on Halloween night at halftime of the Liberal game, the girls had no idea what to expect from the crowd. They had frizzy, freaky hairstyles, their faces were covered in zombie paint - they looked perfect for the song they were about to dance to, Disturbia by Rihanna. This was not your ordinary high school dance routine - but then again, the BC pom squad, under the supervision of sponsor Karen Peck and the leadership of captains Michelle Hill and Kelcie Johanek, never aims for ordinary. "Kelcie and I had a vision and we just went for it. We wanted it to be eerie, creepy and disturbing," Hill said. "I think we got the point across during the performance. We don't hold back on being different and trying new things. We wanted it to be weird." The dance received rave reviews by those in attendance, as has been the case all year long for the Golden Eagle Pommers. Carroll's dance team has always had a strong tradition, and they are known for their innovative and fun dances. "We have a big reputation to uphold at Carroll because every year we have to uphold the legacy and bring something new each year," Hill said. "Our squad has grown each year. We look for girls who are motivated, optimistic and goal-oriented to be on our team." Hill, a senior, and Johanek, a junior, have been dancing together at Young World Studios since they were six years old. Their chemistry is apparent in Carroll's dances, the creation of which can be complex. This year, the task has proved even more hectic because of their busy performance schedule. "We haven't had much time to plan ahead for dances, so we have learned most of our dances in the two weeks prior to the performance night," Hill said. "Actually, we learned our dance for the North High Invitational in a week when all other schools had been working on theirs for a month, and I'd say we did really well." (North High hosts an annual showcase which invites all the surrounding high school and college dance teams.) The Carroll pom squad has evolved in several ways this year. Hill said the team has reformed its steps to implement triple pirouettes, split leaps, center leaps, attitude turns, barrel rolls and even team fouettes (where one leg is out and they turn around in circles in unison). The team is also carrying on Carroll traditions. "At the fall sports pep rally, we always dance with the senior boys," Hill said. "This year it was a big hit. We danced to the Spice Girls, NSYNC, Grease and Night at the Roxbury. We wanted the senior class to reflect on the old days with the type of music we chose to dance to." They are innovators, as well. Hill said squad members are the original creators of "the worm", a group dance move where the girls as one unit do the worm. The pommers also recently performed their Christmas dance, which gave the sophomores a chance at choreography, a skill which will help them in the future. The squad is very talented. At Emporia State camp, Carroll received first place for their originally choreographed home routine, a superior trophy and the Rockstar Award. "Kelcie and I have pushed the girls extremely hard this year to bring out everyone's best, and it has paid off," Hill said. "We strive to be the best."