UC High has a new majorette dance team, the Centurionettes, amalgamating multiple styles of dancing, including jazz, hip-hop, ballet, burlesque, cabaret, kick lines, and more, who hope to entertain audiences while simultaneously honoring the dancers who came before them.

Sophomore Alayjah Morgan explained that over the past month, the team has gotten extremely close and created strong friendships with one another. She said that bonding is one of the critical factors improving communication and collaboration within the team.

Morgan, a member of the new majorette dance team, has been performing majorette for about three years now. Morgan said, “Being on an already competitive majorette dance team and wanting to bring this type of dance to new people is the reason why I started this group, and I thought it would be a cool experience.”

“The hardest part of dancing is getting over the jitters. Being too nervous can mess up your mentality and cause you to forget the dance potentially,” said Morgan. One thing Morgan loves about being a Centurionette is that it is a way to express herself freely and learn new things, plus bring something new and different to the school.

Freshman Keke Washington has been dancing for six years and recently joined the team. Washington said, “I have been on a separate dance team, and I just wanted to share this new experience with my peers.” Washington loves being able to show her moves and skills to others and has been dancing for so long that she says she does not get nervous anymore and is able to be herself.

Junior Zarriah Bailey said, “Ever since I started dancing majorette in the fourth grade, I’ve loved it, but unfortunately, I had to leave the team I was on. I haven’t danced since then, but when the Centurionettes were formed, I joined because it was an opportunity for me to get back into dance and work on my form, technique and on overall getting better.”

Freshman Taneeya Washington has been dancing for seven years, and said that to this day the hardest part for her is remembering the choreography. She added, “My mom is the one who inspired me to join the Centurionettes, and I like how I am able to be myself whenever I am dancing with them.”

UC High’s Centurionettes Dance Team explained that they will be performing during basketball games, upcoming pep rallies, and football games during the 2023-2024 school year.