Every day at 3 p.m., the cafeteria is transformed from an empty dining hall to an animated stage for the dedicated athletes that compose the dance team.

The team competes in various competitions and performs for the school, but this fall four girls will experience a more universal performance.

The four captains, Riley O’Rourke, Chelsea Kopf, Kate DeClark, and Hannah Ernst will be showcased at the Big Apple, squeezed somewhere between the blimps and floats that decorate the Macy’s Day Parade. They earned their spot over the summer at an intense dance camp at James Madison University.

“It’s a huge honor to perform in such a big event, and I know I’ll always remember it,” said senior Chelsea Kopf. Not only will it be an honor and a chance to show off their skills, they will get to see Billy Elliot on Broadway, The Rockettes Christmas Spectacular, and explore New York, giving even more reasons to count down the days.

“Words can’t even begin to express the anxiety that grows everyday that we grow closer to going,” said junior Hannah Ernst.

The dancers will be performing with girls from all over the nation, including their friendly rivals, the Bartram Trial from Orlando, Florida. They will perform a different style then they do for West Springfield, not that it fazes the girls.

“To be honest, it has better choreography so I’m not really worried,” said junior Riley O’Rourke. Choreographers Michelle Edwards and Liz Rifino put together a pompom routine that corresponds will the cheerleader-esque name of the group, Varsity Spirit. The sunny dance follows a Beach Boys melody.

“The dance is absolutely adorable,” said Ernst. Equally adorable may be their costumes, which the girls already received. After always wearing baggy pants and the occasional Halloween costume to perform, the neon outfits will be refreshing to wear.

“It’s got far more pink than I wear on a regular basis. We’ll have huge bows that I’m dreading wearing,” said O’Rourke. Do not be confused; dancing is so much more than just pretty costumes and away trips. The hard work and dedication the girls display is unquestionably great.

Dancing monopolizes their time, both during and after school. The girls engage in multiple dance classes, including studio and academy classes, but none quite so rewarding as dance team.

“I prefer the dance team environment as there is less competition between each dancer,” said Kopf.  Team chemistry plays a role in the love of dance.

“This team shares such a unique bond,” said Ernst. “We’re a big, weird, happy family and I love that part of dancing.” The advantages of having an accepting, loving atmosphere is evident in the unison in which the team performs and is a needed quality due to the amount of time the team spends together.

Dancing at such a high level comes at a cost, but not one too painful to pay.

“I never learned to ride a bike, never jumped in a leaf pile,” said Kopf, expressing the sacrifices made when your childhood is spent in a dance studio. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Kopf is not the only one to put dance as top priority.

“It keeps me motivated to want to wake up for school the next morning so I can go to dance that evening,” said O’Rourke. Nothing is going to keep these girls from dancing.

“No way would I ever give my moments on stage up,” said O’Rourke.