The Dance Team at Notre Dame Academy isn’t just about competing and practicing routines;it’s about building friendships to last a lifetime.

Led by Coach Miranda Roehl, the varsity team includes four dancers: Sydney Miles, Hayleigh Cornwell, Abby Albrecht and Remi Schenian. 

There are also 32 Future Triton Dancers from kindergarten through eighth grade that make up the Coral, Sharks, and Waves teams.

The team practices three to four days a week, spending nearly three hours each night preparing for a busy competition season ahead. 

With eight regular competitions on the calendar and the preparation and practice it takes to qualify for the State Dance Championships, the studio can get busy at times.

“We haven’t started competing yet, but we are so excited to start,” Roehl said.

Even through the challenges, the team stays connected.

“One of the best parts about this team is how much the dancers support each other, both on and off the floor,” Roehl explained. “They really are like a family.”

Team captain Sydney Miles, who is a senior at NDA and is in her fourth year on the dance team, only has high hopes for the future.

“We have a small team this year, but with our Future Tritons program, I hope to see it grow. My dream would be to have around 12–16 girls on varsity in the future,” she said. 

Miles acknowledges past captains and Coach Roehl for inspiring her leadership.

When asked what advice she’d give to future dancers, Sydney’s message was simple: “Just do it. The commitment might seem tough, but the memories and friendships you build are worth everything.”

Coach Roehl agrees. “You don’t need experience, just a good attitude and a love for being part of something bigger than yourself,” she said.

As the NDA Dance Team prepares for the competition season they hope to make new memories and focus on each other even more than winning.