Dance Force looks to dance their way into Cowhide Post-Homecoming Performance

By: Morgan Castaneda

Dance Force members reflect on their Homecoming Week performances and start preparing for upcoming events such as future rallies, football games, and Cowhide Week.

With Cowhide Week approaching in late October, Dance Force members consider the lessons they have learned during their Homecoming performances and look to apply them to their upcoming events.

These dancers reflect on both the Homecoming rally and football game, addressing certain challenges that they faced in the short time they had to prepare.

Dance force is choreographed and taught by Mrs. Michelle Lapp. In addition to the dance team, Lapp teaches Intro to Dance, Intermediate, Advanced, and Hip Hop.

As the head coach, Lapp says the girls “always try to do a little extra” and that she “always [tries] to expose the girls to new types of dance styles.”

She says “the season’s been going really well, the girls worked really hard over summer.”

Lapp mentions that “[she is] always looking to improve. [She] feel[s] like [she] go[es] above and beyond as far as [her] role.” Lapp has many goals for the season and takes pride in encouraging growth in the team’s skills.

During their ’22-’23 season, the team is carrying seven new members, five of which are freshmen.

Clare Vorst, ’26 is yet another first year member, fondly reflecting on her personal performance for her first spirited week of the school year.

She says that she “thought [she] did pretty good, [she] hit [her] back handspring so [she] was happy.”

When reflecting on how Vorst’s first year experience with her team is going, she mentions that the team is “very supportive and the girls are always there for you to help if you ever need it.”

Sadie Hemphill, ’25 is a first year Dance Force member.

Hemphill says that they “didn’t have a long time to prepare [for Homecoming], so it was kinda rough being thrown right into it,” however she “think[s] it all ended up going well.”

As a result of their preparations for the school year over the summer, the girls got a lot of extra bonding time together to grow their togetherness as a team.

Hemphill says that the team is “together a lot even during the summer so [she’s] gotten to know everyone and [she’s] made a lot of friends.”

Two year member Marileigh Coon, ’25 was one of two freshmen last year selected to be on dance force.

Despite having a short time to prepare for Homecoming Week, Coon says she and the girls “think it went really smooth. [They] were all a little nervous about it, but it was really fun.”

Dance Force currently has three captains: Bryann Block, ’23, Madison Andrade, ’23, and Tegan Horton, ’23. All of the following dancers have extensive backgrounds in dancing.

Andrade says she “think[s] the season is going really well so far, the team gets along very well and [they] all work together, it’s definitely a step up from last year because [they] learned all [their] strengths and weaknesses as a team.”

As many of the Dance Force seniors’ last Cowhide comes up soon, Block says “[She is] so excited for Cowhide, [she] love[s] performing at Cowhide so hopefully [they will] have a good routine for that one.”

The rest of the team expresses their excitement for Cowhide Week as well, most of which have never performed during the event before.

Makayla Bullock, ’24 is a returning member of Dance Force, noting that she is “very excited for Cowhide, [they are] all working on a new dance and [she is] a little bit stressed for that but it’s gonna be good.”

As Redwood’s Dance Force is looking forward to performing during Cowhide Week, Gwyn Miller, ’25 says that “[they] have a really fun routine that [they are] going to perform and [she’s] excited. There’s always a lot of school spirit at Cowhide so it’s just fun to experience it.”

Tags: arts and entertainment, clubs & lifestyles, cowhide, dance force, homecoming, Morgan Castaneda, performances, rangers, Redwood, redwood dance, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, rhs, visalia ca