SunDancers Hold Auditions

The+new+baby+SunDancers+pose+with+their+ribbons.

Sarah Wang

The new baby SunDancers pose with their ribbons.

SunDancer hopefuls began an arduous four-day process of auditioning for the elite dance team, from Monday, Nov. 26, to Thursday, Nov. 29. Results for the auditions were announced on Friday, Nov. 30 at 5 p.m.

Weeks before the actual auditions, the auditionees and their parents attended  a required parent night, where they were informed about the requirements to audition and additional details about what it’s like once you become a SunDancer. Then, for four days, students who were trying out gathered their confidence and joined the current SunDancers in the cafeteria before school to begin learning the pieces they would perform after school on Thursday.

“The most difficult part of the audition process was right before I went in to perform for the judges as I was very nervous,” Tiffany Phu ‘22 said. “Once I was in the room, I just had to remember that all I had to do was try my best.”            

Throughout the first three days, the hopefuls learned a turn and leap across the floor, a jazz/kick combination, and finally a contemporary piece. On the last day, a mock audition was held in the morning in order for the auditionees to understand the process of the audition itself, which was that afternoon. The audition continued until 8 p.m. that night, and as the day concluded the hopefuls patiently waited until the next day for the results.

“I am most excited about seeing the new members experience all of their firsts,” Brooke Weatherbie ‘20 said, “It’s such a cool, new time for them and I am beyond excited to see them experience the different elements of SunDancers for the first time.”

Finally, on Monday, Dec. 3, the eight new baby SunDancers attended a pinning ceremony, where they celebrated their new found family with the current members of the team. The new baby SunDancers consist of Phu, Greta Mock ‘22, Anurima Mummaneni ‘20, ShiYing Su ‘22, Jessica Hao ‘22, Diya Kapoor ‘22, Allie Karren ‘22, and Catherine Zhang ‘22.

“I am looking forward to most is the relationship I get to make with each one of my fellow dancers,” Mock said. “I have looked up to every single one of them and still do. I have wanted to be a SunDancer since I was two so sharing the dance floor with them is a dream come true.”