The De Soto Diamonds dance team is entering the 2016-17 school year with many changes from previous years. Last year, the dance team won Nationals, along with multiple other solo and team achievements. The team is coached by Starside teacher Mckenzi Crow and resource teacher Emily Thayer.

A big change this year is that there are very few returning dancers, and they no longer have a senior on the team.

“There are no seniors this year. We have three returning people and then the rest are new,” junior captain Charisa Dodd said.

While the lack of returning dancers could be a problem, the Diamonds are able to overcome this obstacle.

“We’ve been really trying to show [the new dancers] how competition dance works for high school by showing them the expectations and showing videos of our past dances and dances of other schools,” Thayer said. “We keep encouraging them and letting them know what we’re looking for and what the competition’s like.”

Another big change for the Diamonds is the addition of a new type of routine.

“This year we are doing a lyrical routine, jazz routine and a pom routine. Its our first time choosing a pom routine so we’re excited but nervous,” Thayer said.

A pom routine is an upbeat, sharp routine that involves visual props like pom poms.

Despite the new changes, the Diamonds still plan on doing well this year.

“I think we’re going to do really good. We have a lot of good talent this year and we all work together very well,” Dodd said.

Thayer also expects the team to do great this year.

“They’re just a fun young group that really enjoys dancing. They really are passionate about it and they’ve been working hard,” Thayer said. “Our expectation is still to go back to Nationals and still to win Nationals.”

The Diamonds perform at home football games and pep assemblies throughout the year. Their first competition is Miss Kansas at Olathe South in January.