As the lights reveal the crew on stage and everyone brings off their powerful moves to the music at the end-of-year showcase, those who shine the brightest would be the senior members of the Shorewood hip hop team.
To the seniors, hip hop can mean something inspirational, as senior captain Andy Drummond explained. “I haven’t been into dancing before I joined the team, but then once I joined the team, I was able to find my passion for dancing… I like expressing my creativity through movement, and so [hip hop] was like a nice creative outlet for me,” Drummond said. Through the hip hop performances over the course of his time on the team, Drummond found a way to show the artistic side of his personality. However, what has also become truly significant to him was his teammates who went through all the challenging and exciting moments together.
This is why the end-of-year hip hop showcase is one of his favorite moments from his experience. “[The end-of-year showcase] is so different because the competition season is so strict and hard, so it’s kind of like a nice end-of-year celebration for the team,” Drummond said.
Another member, senior lieutenant Pearl Quesada, has grown to cherish the hip hop team as a family over the last four years she’d been on the team.
For Quesada, hip hop was about growth. “I’m part of the leadership, [and it’s] really been like a huge journey for me, just starting out as a freshman who didn’t have any dance experience when I first joined the team. But now that I’m a senior, I feel like I’ve grown a lot, and I’ve gotten so much more comfortable in how I dance and, you know, how I am as a person,” Quesada said. And all of this was possible thanks to the team, whom she soon has to say goodbye to. “I come to practice every day, we have a new routine every year, and a new team every year. And it’s been really fun having a good family… [There are] people that come in and out of the team that I’ve gotten close with and yeah, it’s kind of sad to be leaving because [the hip hop team] has been like my family for four years,” Quesada said.
Senior Isaias Gabay remembers the pure excitement he felt when the team placed first at the district competition and qualified for the state. “I thought that was really awesome. It was fun seeing my team really happy about it, and everyone celebrating. It was especially nice seeing our captains and lieutenants, Andy, Aaron, Sarah and Pearl, like, [being] really happy about it, because I know they put in a lot of hard work for it. And I was just honestly really proud of the whole team,” Gabay said.
As it was for the others, what made the hip hop experience fun for Gabay were his hardworking team and his enthusiasm for dancing. “Every time I was at practice, like, I didn’t loathe it at all. It was just something I wanted to do. I felt motivated to go there and I was also excited to perform and learn dances and just have a good time with the team,” Gabay said.
It could be because of the strong friendship among teammates, the oppor.tunity for personal growth and creative expressions, or both. After high school, the seniors hope to continue having dancing as part of their lives in a variety of ways. Drummond plans to work as a dance teacher at a studio while in college. “I got a job as a dance teacher at this studio recently, so I think I’ll be doing that throughout college and stuff…hopefully I’ll be able to do performances as well,” Drummond said.
Quesada is hoping to join a dance club at Western Washington University, where she’ll be attending as a freshman this fall. “[WWU] has a few hip hop groups there that I’m thinking of joining and trying out for, but I’ve just heard they’re really hard to get on to. But I do want to dance and keep, you know, either taking dance classes or, like, joining a team or a dance group when I’m up in Bellingham for Western,” Quesada said. Gabay is considering taking a class to keep dancing as a hobby. “I totally want to continue dancing, like, maybe just take a class here and there and learn dancing. I don’t think I’m gonna pursue it too heavily,” Gabay said.
To the new hip hoppers joining the crew, the three seniors had something to say. “Being on hip hop is such a really nice experience and I think that you should really treasure your time on the team, peers, the friends that you make… Even though it’s really hard and stuff, it’s worth it because, in the end, you feel proud of what you’ve done,” Drummond said.
“You don’t need any experience at all, and high school dance is like one of the best ways to get into dance if you’re interested in it. So you know, if you just want to try out something new, join Shorewood hip hop because you’ll find out if you like dance or if you don’t like dance…it’s just a good place to [find out about your passion],” Quesada said.
“This honestly goes for, like, any sport, but just don’t be afraid to look stupid. Like, everyone’s doing the same thing you are and it helps if you just try your best. Look stupid but be proud,” Gabay said.
