Wildcat of the Week: Kelsey Mills represents dance team in national event

Senior co-captain Kelsey Mills has been dancing since she could remember. This month, she will dance in a national event in Orlando, Florida.
Courtesy of Kelsey Mills
Senior co-captain Kelsey Mills has been dancing since she could remember. This month, she will dance in a national event in Orlando, Florida.

Senior Kelsey Mills has been dancing for so long, she doesn’t know when she first started. This year as co-captain of the De Soto Diamonds dance team Mills has the opportunity to represent the Diamonds in Orlando, Florida during the Varsity Spirit Spectacular parade at Disneyworld.

Only captains of dance teams across the country could march in the parade from Dec. 3 through 7th, with about 800 dancers going to the event across the nation.

Participants in the parade purchase a full pass to Disneyworld to ride all rides, meal vouchers, and uniforms.

For the event, Mills had to learn a special march.

“I’ve learned a parade march and I’m going to do it along with all the other participants at Disneyworld,” Mills said, going on to say: “I’m more excited for Disneyworld [than the parade]!”

Although she will not be able to attend the event due to financial reasons, senior co-captain Christa Stenzel wishes she could go.

“It’s a really great opportunity,” said senior co-captain Christa Stenzel.

Mills is a very good representative for the dance team, according to coach Emily Thayer.

“She’s a hard worker, she loves being on the dance team, and always is willing to do anything and everything we ask, and goes over the top, she really takes the time to help each girl when she feels like they need it individually, and the girls know they can go to her for help. She’s just very helpful and always wants everyone to do their best; she just puts so much energy and time into [dance] that she’s going to be really hard to replace. I’m going to miss her tremendously next year and I know she’s going to go on and do great things,” Thayer said.

By going to a national convention with the leaders of dance teams around the nation, Mills will be representing De Soto High School on a large scale.