November 18, 2024
The rumors of a “Secret Song” to close out the Spring Recital spread throughout City Academy’s gym last May, but the actual performance was unlike anything that has been performed in City Academy’s 25-year history. Emerging from behind the curtain in different colored shirts to represent their grade level, City Academy’s first Step Team performed a nearly 10-minute routine that brought the house down, leaving even parents of the performers stunned.
“When parents picked their kids up from Extended Day, many just assumed we were doing this for fun,” says Step Team Coach Mya McLemore. “Nobody really knew there was going to be a performance and then some parents told me that they expected like a two minute performance. And then they were like, ‘you gave a whole step shift!’”
Step is a high-energy dance form that uses synchronized stomping, clapping, and vocal elements to create rhythmic and percussive movements. The Step Team began practicing in January on Wednesdays and Thursdays after school as part of City Academy’s Extended Day Program, which offers a multitude of opportunities for students to pursue interests.
Mya, who teaches 2nd Grade STEAM, has a background in stepping, cheerleading, and majorette dance. She was inspired to start the team to engage students in a new way. “Trying to build a relationship with the young ladies here, I was thinking what made sense, and then a light bulb came on one day,” she says. The idea quickly gained traction, with 20 students in 3rd-6th grade joining the team.
The preparation process was intense and required dedication from both Mya and the students. Mya spent long hours outside of practice choreographing routines, while also involving the team in decisions about what worked best. “I asked them for input. We would talk about what sounded good, what didn’t sound good,” she explains. Mya also credits the 6th graders for taking on a strong leadership role, especially with the younger students.
Beyond the performance, the Step Team experience had a profound impact on the students.
“We had a line that was even on our shirt — we upheld perseverance, teamwork, empathy, and confidence,” Mya says. “I want them to be okay with being themselves, and I want them to be girls’ girls. I want them to be helpful to one another. Caring to one another. Kind to one another. I want it to feel like a community, and not just people coming together to do this one thing. I wanted to feel like a team.”
Looking ahead, the success of the Step Team has sparked interest in continuing the program, possibly even expanding it to include other performances. Although Mya initially viewed it as a one-time after-school activity, the overwhelming enthusiasm from students, parents, and staff has made her reconsider. “I don’t think I have a choice when it comes to bringing it back,” she admits with a smile. You won’t want to miss the next performance!