Being a good dancer is more than just having good technique or good flexibility. A good dancer is someone who is dedicated to dance, physically and mentally. They need to have a passion for it and be willing to give it their all. Currently, the Rock Creek Dance Team is in the process of joining the school, but it is not official yet.
With the dance team not being a part of the school, transportation is something that can hold them back.
“When we go to competitions, we can’t drive all together,” freshman dancer, Piper Prockish said, “We have to have our parents drive us separately and we are all there at different times, since we cant have a bus to be transported.”
The team often hold fundraisers to cover expense like uniforms, camp fees, registrations for competition, copyright fees to use music, and choreography fees. Dancing can be an expensive sport.
“In the fall, we mostly do K-State concessions and some bake sales…and recently did a blanket one.” Prockish said.
Some changes are to be expected if the dance team because a KSHSAA sponsored team under the high school. When planning for those big changes, Head Coach, Dannielle Heideman consults her Assistant Coach, Jennifer Prockish.
“When Jennifer and I talk, we continue to want to push our team farther, and our next big goal is to be able to go to Nationals eventually,” Heideman said, “And it may happen in a year. It might happen in five, I’m not sure, but I think we’ll keep growing.”
Heideman mentioned in the upcoming years, her focus will be to run only the high school dance team. Parting ways with the middle school in order to be considered a high school sport. With the change in classification to a high school only dance team she feels this will bring her and the student dancers more ability to grow their program.
“I feel like they’ve always put themselves at a higher level already. So I don’t know that our success will change, just what we can do…the opportunities that come about by being a KSHSAA sanctioned organization will change” Heideman said.
Under the guidance of the coaches, the Rock Creek dance team has participated in both competitions and performances at school events, including football games and basketball games. After receiving a 2 rating at the Innovative Dance Competition held February 1 held at Olathe North West High School, they took their critiques from the judges and practiced endlessly. That hard work paid off when they earned a 1 rating at Baldwin Cheer and Dance Festival on February 22, 2025 to end out their award season.
