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Dance teams sparkle with skill, enthusiasm

Not long ago, Clovis Municipal Schools’ well-known Wildcadettes and middle school dance teams dazzled audiences once again.

Showcased in “A Night of Spectacular Dance” at Clovis High School, these students sparkled with enthusiasm and amazing skills as they demonstrated the results of their hard work.

The middle school and high school dance teams presented solo, duet, and group performances. Kym Cordova, also an English teacher at the CHS Freshman Academy, has headed up the dance program for many years now. Forget personal compliments, though; Cordova immediately insists it’s most definitely a team effort, with incredible efforts on the part of students and other coaches, with the support of involved parents.

Cordova and her right hand, Sharon Dorman, have a remarkable rapport with these students, the CHS Wildcadettes, inspiring long hours of work and discipline. Standard practice schedule begins at 6:30 a.m. mornings, continuing after school, and some evenings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. If competitions are looming on the horizon, they practice Saturdays, too.

The other coaches invest similar long hours and have the same excellent rapport with the dancers. These include: Leslie Chavez, from the CHS Freshman Wildcadettes; and the middle school coaches: Stephanie Mobley, from Gattis; Kristina Wright, from Marshall; and Paula Mendoza, from Yucca.

There is simply not room enough to list all the awards these dance teams have won. It’s worth mentioning, however, that in addition to the performance awards, the Clovis teams always place high in academics. Maintaining a high grade point average is one of the conditions for participating on the dance teams. It’s also worth noting the majority of these dancers continue their education, attending and graduating from college; not surprising, with the work ethic and disciplined instilled by great coaches.

Cordova described the most recent event: “This is the fourth straight year the Wildcadettes have won the Santa Fe competition. I am blessed to be a part of such a wonderful organization … the tradition … the family atmosphere … once a Wildcadette, always a Wildcadette!”

The fact that many former Wildcadettes, now adults and/or attending college, traveled to Santa Fe — some from hundreds of miles away — to watch the competition and cheer the dancers on speaks volumes.

Cordova continued, “Fact is, I had numerous calls and text messages from ex-Wildcadettes, parents, and others who couldn’t come, all wishing us luck.”

Cindy Kleyn-Kennedy is the instructional technology coordinator for the Clovis Municipal Schools. She can be reached at [email protected]

 
 
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