New Dance Program

For the first time ever, San Marcos is introducing a full time dance program. The program is a response to California State Standards, which includes dance in the PE and performing arts categories. Decades ago, we had a very popular dance team, known as the Marquettes, but never recreational classes. This year, the Marquettes will be returning alongside the new dance PE classes, which together form the dance program.

The dance team itself currently has twelve dancers. They will mostly be focusing on contemporary and jazz styles, and plan on bringing in guest choreographers for the team. Unlike cheer, they will not be doing pom dances and are instead aiming to bring a new style to campus. In the past, the Marquettes were celebrated for their talent and performances. The team’s coach, Meredith Lyons, is hoping to recapture the energy and spirit of the original Marquettes. “I’m just trying to honor the past, the present, and think about the future of how to really shape it so that the school can reembrace what it was, and then now, what it is today and into the future,” Coach Lyons said when asked about her hopes for the program.

For students that are new to dance, or want a lower pressure environment, there are also dance classes being offered. This fall, two sections of Dance 1 being offered, aimed at students with little to no dance experience. Meanwhile, in the spring, there will be one section of Dance 1 and one section of Dance 2, which is better for students who have danced before. Both dance classes are training students to try out for next year’s dance team, as well as those who are just interested in learning some fundamentals of dance. They will cover several styles and techniques, and they also count towards both PE and performing arts credits. The current Dance 1 class will be learning jazz, ballet, contemporary, social dancing, and more.

These classes are a great opportunity to learn the fundamentals of dance at an age where there aren’t many classes offered for beginners. Students are also able to receive training without the high price tag of most dance classes. Coach Lyons said, “Many students don’t have the access to dance classes financially, as they’re expensive. Our opportunity is to provide that for students, except they also get performance elements.”

It has not been confirmed yet where the dance team will be performing, but be on the lookout for more information. For students interested in participating in the dance team next year, auditions will be held in the spring. We are so excited for this new program to launch!