February 2026
By Jasmin Del Rio, Arts & Culture Editor
Everyone knows the beloved KAC Dance Team for their energy, school spirit, and pride, which they showcase through their performances at school events and competitions. Knowing that they are performing brings excitement to me and seeing them perform shows how prepared they are. But it got me to wonder, does everyone know the effort and time that they contribute to make all of this happen and thrive in their competition season?
The Dance Team’s first competition is set to be on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at San Marcos High School. To prepare for a successful season, the team began training months in advance. Each year, preparation starts during the summer, with one to two practices per week. This past July, the team practiced every Tuesday and Thursday for two to three hours, continuing through the final week of summer break. During this time, dancers focused on improving their flexibility and technical skills.
At the start of the school year, the team agreed to hold two after-school practices each month. As competition season approached, a third after-school practice was added to increase training time. Dance coach Ms. Vallejo explained, “It was vital for us to onboard the new members with summer training so that they would be ready for high-stakes performances.” She has consistently emphasized that dancers are never simply practicing—they are always performing. This mindset helps the team build stamina and perfect facial expressions in preparation for competitions.
From the beginning of the school year, the dance team also performed at various school activities and events. They were invited by volleyball coach Coach Hurst to perform at the volleyball team’s beginning-of-season tournament. Later, they performed a hip-hop routine at volleyball’s annual Pink Out game, which raises awareness for breast cancer. In addition, the team performed two different routines at school pep rallies and is scheduled to perform for incoming freshmen, giving them a preview of what the KAC Dance Team has to offer.
Although some people believe being part of the dance team is a simple task that only involves learning choreography, the reality is far more complex. The team is responsible not only for learning routines, but also for choreographing dances from scratch, incorporating stunts and technical skills, and ensuring that every dancer stays on track to master the entire routine.
To gain insight into the leadership side of the team, the dance team captains, Zanaida Reyes and Alexander Martinez, shared their experiences transitioning from veterans(experienced members of the team) to captains. Alex said, “Being a veteran and captain, there have been times when the workload has felt like a lot, especially during the first few months while trying to balance captain responsibilities with veteran responsibilities.” Zanaida added, “Despite being on the team for three years already, the beginning of each year usually feels like being new all over again because we have a new team every year. Meeting new members and forming connections is always fun, but it is also bittersweet knowing our old senior teammates are no longer there, and now it’s up to us to fill those roles.”
In addition to the captains’ perspectives, a new member of the team, Nabetse Vargas, shared her experience as a first-year dancer. When asked about her responsibilities, she said, “My responsibilities as a new member are to commit to responsibility, punctuality, and sharing with my teammates what I have learned when they were not in class or practice.”
Coach Vallejo also shared her expectations for the team. “My expectations of Dance Crew members do not exceed their ability,” she said. “I expected them to increase their stamina, flexibility, and strength. I expected them to have all three contest routines ready for live audiences by the end of January 2026, and they did it.” She added that her expectations have continued to rise, stating, “My expectations have increased because they are a strong bunch of competitors. I have raised the level of rigor for jazz technique and their novelty routine.” Coach Vallejo also noted that she and Coach Yanez are proud of the team’s academic success and plan to enter their GPAs into an academic competition category against regional dance teams.
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Coach Vallejo expressed confidence in the team’s potential. She believes this year’s team will score higher in both the Jazz and Novelty categories. “Our captains are great communicators and leaders, our manager is always on point, and our team respects each other,” she said. “They will be triumphant.”
As competition season approaches, the KAC Dance Team continues to prove that their success is built on dedication, teamwork, and countless hours of preparation. Time and time again, they have shown that they proudly represent their school and are always ready to showcase their school pride. No matter the outcome, their commitment and passion ensure that the KAC Dance Team will continue to shine on and off the stage.
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