High-schoolers struggle to keep drill team alive

A surprise decision by Redmond High School to ditch its drill team has upset some students and has others crying foul.

The Lake Washington School District said there is simply not enough interest to sustain the team any longer, after only five students tried out this season. But the students claim they were never given a chance to recruit.

Team members past and present are planning a protest performance this morning outside the school gates. The team also plans to present Redmond High Principal Brian Hunter with a petition signed by 200 students, staff and residents.

"It's really terrible," said Crystal Hunsaker, a 17-year-old junior. "There goes my dreams for college." To dance competitively at college level, she said, serious students need to dance every year.

The Redmond drill team, like others on the Eastside, has little resemblance to the more military-style drill teams popular in the 1950s.

While students still start their routine with a whistle blow and then march out to perform in unison, these days they break into choreographed dance moves to the sound of jazz and hip-hop.

Officials from five school districts yesterday confirmed that modern-style drill or dance teams are thriving at almost every public high school on the Eastside — although the teams are proving less popular in Seattle.

But at Redmond High, a decision was made not to replace the current coach after she left to pursue other ventures, said school district spokesman Peter Daniels.

"There are multiple opportunities to participate these days not only in sport but in drama and dance," Daniels said.

If the girls are determined to keep the drill team alive, he said, they could find an adviser and start a club.

According to the girls, though, the spirit of the dance comes from performing for their school.

The ax comes after tryouts for the cheer team ended, said 17-year-old junior Sonia Dociu.

That leaves team members without options when the new school year begins in fall, she said, after students spent years training up to 12 hours a week.

The team has been active in the community, Dociu said, and has performed at senior citizens' homes, taught kids how to dance, raised money for charity and performed at school sports events. The girls say that when a football or cheer coach leaves, the school jumps into action to find a replacement.

Their chosen activity, however, is not taken seriously.

"Some people have a passion to play basketball," said Annie Harding, a 17-year-old senior. "Some people have a passion to dance."

Nick Perry can be reached at 206-515-5639 or nperry@seattletimes.com.