Dani Powell, Staff Writer
Countless hours of preparation go into the ten to fifteen minute halftime show during football games. Hundreds of Newtown High School students participate in the preparations for this half time show to entertain the fans, students and faculty. These students participate and stay after school to put in the necessary amounts of practice hours but since most people just enjoy the show we don’t really know what goes on behind the scenes.
The band and color guard perform at all the home football games, but they also compete in outside competitions. The routine they do for the halftime show they can also be used for competitions. There are between 200 and 300 people that participate in the band and guard combined, which is a high number of Newtown High students who are involved in the same activity.
“We practice for about 10 hours a week. We have real practices and sectionals, which is defiantly ten or more hours,” Newtown High School junior and band member as a tenor saxophone Mimi Hawke said.
The Newtown High Varsity Cheer team is in attendance at all thirteen home and away games throughout the duration of the football and basketball season. “We do probably 13 hours of practice a week but that doesn’t include tumbling and games. With everything it’s closer to 18 or 19 hours” NHS freshman varsity cheerleader Olivia Mubarek said. The cheer team also competes in competitions with their jaw dropping stunts and amazing tumbling skills. So just like band and guard, the preparation for the cheerleaders is not 100% for the halftime show.
Despite the fact that most people would think all the work was not worth it for these athletes, they think differently. It is an amazing way to meet friends and do what they love; it is not just about the shows to them. “I love cheer because we are a family and everyone on the team is so kind and helpful to others. We spend a lot of time together and become very close and I am so happy to be part of the team,” Mubarek said.
Just like the other teams, the dance team puts in hours of work every day after school. “We practice about 6 hours a week, but during competition we practice longer. Because we only perform at home football and basketball games sometimes there are weeks where we don't have a lot to practice. Usually we learn a dance in a day which usually takes 7 hours. Than we clean it during the week,” captain of the varsity dance team Nicole Connolly said.
The dance team does compete in the SWC dance conference, and are currently ranked number one. This does not eliminate their love and passion for the halftime show though.
“I love dancing, my favorite part is the halftime show when we perform. When the student section is cheering for us, it really gets me going and excited to be a part of the NHS Varsity Dance Team,” Connolly said
“I think the dance team is really cool, they always do a good job” Emily Montoya NHS junior said.
“I have a few friends on the teams, and I know they work hard and they do a really good job,” NHS senior Cate Haggerty said, “It’s a really cool thing to watch when the football players take a break, I really enjoy it.”
Photo Credit; swc.ct.com
