For many students at Howell High School, extracurricular activities are an important part of life. They can help students find community, develop essential life-skills, and explore interests. From sports and clubs to art programs, Howell High School provides many of these activities. However, for HHS students passionate about dance, there are not any options offered. This has led some students to find their extracurricular life at various local studios including Ms. Bridget’s School of Dance, Glenns’ School of Dance, and Center Stage Dance Company. Though challenges arise for students participating in an extracurricular separate from high school, for dance students, it does not go without rewards.

Participating in dance outside of school can offer students unique opportunities that are inaccessible for high school teams. For example, some dancers get chances to train with professionals and participate in events completely outside of school.

“I get to go to events through my studio that I wouldn’t be able to go to through school. I go to Motor City Tap Fest in Detroit during the summer, and then I go to a bunch of conventions all over Michigan and other states throughout the year,” Howell High School senior and Center Stage Dance Company student Nina Goldsworthy said.

Ms. Bridget’s School of Dance students also receive special opportunities provided through their studio.

“I go to Nationals and we go to places like South Carolina or we’re going to Tennessee this year so that’s exciting. Basically dance is an all year thing because you have recitals and then you go to Nationals and then maybe a week after nationals it’s summer classes. So it’s kind of never ending,” Howell High School senior and Ms. Bridget’s School of Dance student Abigail Frank said.

Another possible benefit from being involved in dance separate from school is that there are lots of opportunities to collaborate with peers from different backgrounds which allow for a more enriching experience.

“I’ve gotten to meet a lot of different people from different schools and I get to learn about what they do. It’s mainly just about meeting new people. I’m experiencing stuff that’s not at Howell,” Frank said.

Being able to work with people who you do not see on a daily basis is a very important skill that these dancers are able to acquire.

“At my dance studio, there’s kids from all different schools, so working as a team with people that I didn’t know before has given me teamwork,” Goldsworthy said.

For students that want to continue with dance throughout their long-term future, dance studios offer more favorable circumstances.

“I think my current dance team is better because dance teams through the high school are more the dance teams you see on the sidelines of football games, which don’t correlate to the type of careers I want,” Howell High School junior and Glenns’ School of Dance student Emily Erickson said.

While participating in a dance company outside of school can have its perks, it can also have certain drawbacks. School organization’s schedules are managed around the schedules of the students as well as taking other school activities into consideration. It is difficult for Howell High School to accommodate separate schedules for a sport they do not have themselves. This is visible in many of the lives of our dancers who have conflicting schedules that suffer from school work load, separate activities, etc.  

“I would say there’s definitely cons about it. It’s hard because you have your school life that you have to balance, and then your dance life, and it’s completely different,” Frank said.

Dance class lineups, regardless of the company, can be very unpredictable. Many dancers will go to school only to spend the rest of their day in dance training.

“It’s crazy. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday for around 3:15 p.m.-10 p.m., and some weekends,” Frank said.

Schedules vary day to day differing from a high school extracurricular.  

“I dance Monday through Thursday, anywhere from an hour and a half to three hours a day. It’s hit or miss and then lots of weekend rehearsals that are, again, hit or miss,” Erickson said.

Not having a school program for the only sport you compete in can limit opportunities to receive certain rewards, college benefits, and more.

“…I wish that if it was with the school that I could get my varsity letter in that sport, or get committed to college through that sport,” Goldsworthy said.

Dance has become a universally popular sport around the world that helps people of any age, race, or gender express themselves. They can learn how to show emotions without saying a word and perform in a way that makes them feel happy in their skin. These students must find a separate space to do so.  But, this has not affected their love or dedication to the sport.  

“I’ve learned so much. I’ve learned how to express myself in a way that’s authentic to who I am. It’s really just allowed me to grow as a person and who I want to be,” Frank said.

Dancing in a different setting to school can help them grow other skills that they can take into their lives after high school. These skills can be learned in a school sport as well, but learning the balance between the two is an entirely different skill set.

“I’ve learned how to do time management very well because both school and dance are year round and like very hard commitments. I’ve learned how to work together as a team and I have been given lots of leadership opportunities through my dance team that have helped me learn how to be a leader in other aspects as well,” Erickson said.

Through seeing the views of HHS dance students, it can be noticed that the impact of extracurriculars are powerful and benefit students regardless of being a program of the high school. After-school activities can open windows for opportunities to collaborate with others, learn exciting new skills, and develop practical knowledge outside of learning intellectually. All in all, extracurriculars can foster personal growth and self discovery no matter the location or age.

“I kind of just always remember being in dance. Ever since I was young, that’s what I wanted to do,” Frank said.