Dance is a form of self expression, athleticism, and art. It takes lots of practice and hard work to memorize different moves, sets, and songs. Saint Robert is lucky enough to have a pair of dancers who have been able to share their talents with the greater community recently. Seventh graders Tula and Josie are pom and lyrical dancers with Bryoch studio. They were able to show off their skills this past summer at the State Fair.

Dance is a great form of self expression. Tula explains that “Dancing is definitely easier as a duet or solo because you… get to express your own emotion.” Dance portrays feeling in many ways. Not only can emotion be communicated through music, but it is also evident in the costuming. Tula and Josie didn’t only memorize their dance moves, but used them as an outlet for emotions, putting forth that emotional energy into self-expression. 

Although dance can be driven by passion, that does not make the performances or skills any easier. Josie describes that she and Tula had practice “twice a week for one or two hours.” Tula points out that “practices [do] kind of wear you out.” Dance is a physically demanding activity. The girls spent their summer training, completing difficult workouts as well as practicing and memorizing their assigned dances. They explain that there were a lot of exercises that tested their abdominal muscles and flexibility range. 

Different genres of dance can portray different emotions or require different skills within the routines. Tula and Josie perform “pom and lyrical dancing.” Pom is recognized easily because it is popularized by cheerleading. Pom is a form of dance that requires dancing with shimmery hand-held poms. The girls’ group performed a pom routine at the State Fair, where they won second place in a competition. They also did a lyrical duet together, which is a more emotional kind of dancing. Together, they practiced an extra hour every week to prepare for their lyrical performance.  

All dancers are very talented because of the hard work they put into training, the emotion they put into their performances, and the various kinds of dance they learn. Dance is truly a beautiful form of art. St. Robert is very fortunate to have two talented dancers like Tula and Josie within the community.