By: Sydney Brammer
Macie Johnson, ’21 and Melina Soriano, ’21 have been a part of the Redwood Dance Force team since their Freshman year. Since then, they’ve been looking forward to being co-captains their Senior year. Johnson explains, “Being a captain has been a tradition for all the four-year members so I’ve actually been looking forward to being captain since I made the team my Freshman year.”
Photo Courtesy of Johnson
Johnson has been dancing all her life, from when she was just 3 years old to now, a 17-year old Senior. With 15 years of dance experience, what Johnson loves the most about dancing is “how much variety there is” and that “no matter what you’re trying to express, it’s always possible through dance.”
“The thing I love most about being on Dance Force is how involved with the school I can be. Being on the team allows me to be a part of events on campus like football games, rallies, and the Spring Show.”
Macie Johnson, ’21 Dance Force Co-Captain
Johnson says, “It’s exciting to have spent the four years of high school on the dance team,” she also mentions that it’s been extra special having been a “duo” with her co-captain, Melina Soriano.
Photo Courtesy of Soriano
Soriano has been dancing for 13 years, 12 of those being competitively.
“Dancing is an outlet for me to be at my happiest. I love that there are various styles and how I was able to grow as a person and make new friendships along the way.”
Melina Soriano, ’21 Dance Force Co-Captain
Soriano loves her Dance Force team and all the people she’s met through those years, “I love how it’s the team where I can do what I love the most with my best friends by my side.”
Photo Courtesy of Macie Johnson
Soriano plans on continuing her dance career in college. She hasn’t decided what college, but she has a few in mind including: Fullerton, UCLA, and Arizona State University.
Soriano states that her dance teacher, Rebekah Meinert has influenced her greatly throughout her whole dance career. She says, “She was the first person who really saw that I had potential and has seen me grow into the dancer I am today.”
As co-captains of the Redwood Dance Force team, Soriano and Johnson are expected to be role models for the team and to take charge for things such as; leading the team practices, choreographing material, editing video productions, and managing social media platforms for the Winter and Spring Showcases.
Dance Force coach, Mrs. Lapp says, “Macie and Melina have persevered through the challenges the year has presented with grace and maturity beyond their years.”
“This year has brought with it many cancellations of cherished events on the Redwood campus, but these girls have not let those disappointments stop them from making this a memorable Senior year.”
Dance Force coach, Mrs. Lapp
Photo Courtesy of Johnson
With these current unfortunate circumstances, Dance Force while distance learning has been a great struggle for these captains. Soriano says, “It’s a hands-on and communicative type of sport. It isn’t easy through a computer,” however, Dance Force is fortunate enough to come onto campus and hold practice a few times a week in pods so they’re social distanced and are required to wear masks.
Being a Freshman, Brienna Burr is new to the Dance Force team and Redwood. She says, “I feel very welcome around them. Even though I have only seen them in person a few times, they have made a very safe environment, even on Zoom.”
Tegan Horton, ’23 has been a member of Dance Force since her Freshman year. She says Johnson and Soriano “have done a great job of teaching us new choreography and going over any routines that we will be filming soon,” like Burr, Horton agrees that the captains have done “a great job of making the new members of the team feel welcomed… Even though they missed out on a lot of their Senior year, they still want us to have the best year we possibly can.”
Photo Courtesy of Johnson
Not only are Johnson and Soriano excellent dancers and leaders, but they’re great in the classroom, too. According to Lapp, Johnson and Soriano maintained excellent grades throughout all four years of high school with a rigorous academic schedule and are also involved in numerous clubs.
Photo Courtesy of Johnson
According to Lapp, for Dance Force they have acquired many awards including: UDA All-American Team, USA Dance Nationals 4th place in 2018 and 2019, and two 1st place awards at the Believe National Talent Competition in February 2020.
Photo Courtesy of Redwood Gigantea
Johnson was also awarded the “Student Achievement” Award for VUSD, and Soriano has received numerous of awards from across the state while competing with a local dance organization, Dancers Edge.
The only performance Dance Force has had was a Virtual Winter Show which consisted of recordings of the dancers. The team is currently planning for another Virtual Spring Show.
Video of Dance Force’s Virtual Winter Showcase 2020:
According to Johnson, at the Spring Show, every four-year member gets to perform their own solo. Although it will have to be done virtually, the dancers still get to choreograph their own solos for the show.
Sydney Brammer
Sydney Brammer, '22 is currently in her fourth year writing for the Redwood Gigantea. She has a strong passion for featuring the humans of Redwood, and enjoys putting the spotlight on the underdog. She has written for the Visalia Times Delta and Sungazette Sports. You can reach her by email at sydneybr17@gmail.com.
Tags: dance force, humans of redwood, macie johnson, melina soriano, redwood dance, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, redwood sports, seniors, sydneybrammer
