By Kate Sturgill

Staff Writer

    As the new school year rolls around, one of R.J. Reynolds High School’s impressive dance teams, The Dancing Boots, gears up for yet another busy season of bringing school spirit to every football game. The team has been performing since 1959 and is recognized as one of the school’s longest-standing traditions. Last year’s seniors made up a majority of the team, which left many opportunities for new members to join. The Dancing Boots try to keep tradition alive amid the pines, but ultimately, changes will happen over the course of 65 years. 

    Tryouts were held in late April, and the five new members were announced just four days later. The new dancers weren’t the only change the team experienced, though. Amelia Hailey, the dance teacher here at RJR, stepped in as head coach as a replacement for Hannah Womack-Plaxe, who retired after the 24/25 season. Hailey’s high expectations of the team will hopefully translate into a sequence of clean performances throughout the year. 

    “I’ve worked with a lot of dance teams over the years and was even part of both college and high school teams back in the day,” Hailey said. “I also had the chance to work with the Dancing Boots before the COVID pandemic, so stepping in as the new coach just feels like a natural fit.”

   New rules for the team are being implemented this year to improve the dancers’ skills and coordination. One of which suggests that the athletes must take dance to be on the team, which will increase the bond between the girls and Hailey, as well as with one another. 

    “Everyone on the Boots also takes dance here at RJR to strengthen their skills and connection with the team,” Hailey said. “And as the school’s director of dance, I’m excited to bring everything together and help us grow as a community, both on the field and in the classroom.”

   After the class of 2025 seniors graduated, two girls were selected to become The Dancing Boot’s new captains: Finley Reynolds and Zoe Kazakos. They intend to navigate the team through the performance season as efficiently as possible. These seniors, despite their busy schedules, remember what it was like to be a newbie, so they still take the time to help the newer dancers with technique and choreography. 

   “It’s definitely a switch because we learn the same routines for football every year, so it’s a lot harder to catch up as a new member,” Reynolds said. “But this new group of girls has done absolutely amazing with everything.”

    The construction of the new stadium, The Crater, has caused the team to have to perform further away from the student section, which may create chaos for planning and showcasing dances. The team was familiar with standing in front of the students at Deaton-Thompson Stadium, which was used for many years. 

    “We really love the stadium; having it so close has really impacted the school,” Reynolds said. “We’ve seen a huge increase in student support at games, which has been really nice. It was definitely a little difficult figuring out everything for the first game, but we’ve really got the stadium figured out, and it’s been going super smoothly.”

  Although the team veterans are feeling the changes more heavily, newcomers who’ve never experienced being on the team have a different perspective on the team’s function this year.

    Jojo Johnson, a freshman on Boots this year, recognizes the difficulty of juggling the start of a new school year with being on a demanding team like Boots, but is grateful for the girls who have become her newfound friends.

   “Sometimes it’s hard when I have a lot of homework and I have practice as well,”  Johnson said. “Or if I have to stay after school and I have stuff to do. It’s stressful. But I love knowing that if I’ve had a hard day at school and just am tired and I want to go home, I can go to a place where people are nice and I can talk to them, and also it’s high energy, so it’s just fun to be around those girls.”

   Being in a close-knit sisterhood like the Dancing Boots, where everyone can be themselves, really eases the difficulty of the transition from middle school to high school, which can be a daunting jump.

    “[My Boots buddy] Martha Wood is so funny, and she just makes me feel better because she’s easy to talk to, which makes me feel more comfortable when I’m at practice,” Johnson said.  Whether they’re new or seasoned, all team members of the Dancing Boots community are excited for the changes to the team this year. Everyone feels grateful to be in a loving environment like Boots, and no matter the ups or downs the season brings, the girls have the support of each other and their new head coach to keep them going.