In 1992 a group of students with a sincere desire to create and perform dance at high school sporting events got together and formed the Marquette Senior High School Dance Team. Senior Jessica Gray took the initiative. Under the direction of MSHS Band Director Kevin Wilson and dance instructor Jana Benedict, permission was given by the school administration to create this student activity. The nine-member team's original focus was to perform with the band during halftime at Varsity football games. The auditions are much like those for professional dance troupes.
Participants arrive in appropriate dance attire and are assigned a number to wear.
A judge or panel of judges rates each dancer's performance. Dancers take the floor and follow the dance instructor or demonstrator through an aerobic workout and into a very complete stretching exercise. Once the dancers are fully warmed up, to ensure no injuries, ballet technique begins across the floor. One at a time they duplicate the demonstrator in leaps and turns. They must show a high degree of technical ability.