Who doesn’t love a good halftime show? Whether you are the entertainer or the one being entertained, halftime performances delight all.
We have performed at five football halftimes, one Steelers Game, and four Washington Redskin games. Basketball halftimes include 1 Washington Bullets, 2 Washington Wizards, 1 WVU Men’s, 1 Maryland Women’s and 8 WVU Women’s, and countless Garrett College games.
One of our most memorable halftimes in 2010 was teaching the WVU Women’s Team our Pink Glove Dance and their media department recording the practice and showing the video at the game on the jumbotron.
In 1996, our second generation of Aerobic Diehards traveled to Capital Center in Washington, DC, to audition for the chance to perform at a Washinton Bullets Game. It felt like a giant talent show, with all types of acts looking to share their talents at halftime of an upcoming game. There was one singer, I’m thinking, probably someone who made it big later, but they were so impressive that at the end of their performance, our entire team was on their feet with applause. I remember joking and telling them to sit down; that was our competition. I will never forget the excitement we felt when our group made the finals, and we were told we would get to perform at an upcoming game.
We will never forget the crowd’s roar when we were in the tunnel at the Steelers game, waiting to take the field with 300 dancers. The first time we participated in a Washington Redskins Spirit Explosion was inspired by a former student Bethany (Savage) Hammer, who earned her position as a Washington Redskin Cheerleader. We were excited to see her in action and be part of the behind-the-scenes excitement. The dancers took the field in front of 90,000 people. We had such a great time that we would go on to participate in a total of four Redskin games. Each group that participated experienced the excitement of a professional football game and the logistics of a big city and stadium, which was quite a life experience for everyone.
Our halftime shows often showcase select dance groups, but it has also been a perfect platform for many of our community dance projects. We perform at many civic events, but something is extra stimulating about a halftime show.
The most rewarding halftime show for me featured our breast cancer awareness campaigns. In 2010, we took our Pink Glove dance to WVU and the University of Maryland Women’s basketball halftime shows. The Maryland game was possible with the help of former student Brianne (Meyers) Rowh, who worked at the University Health and Wellness Department. She assisted me in creating a virtual way to teach and recruit students from the campus. I had never done anything like this before, and showing up with just one rehearsal to a large group, with whom I had no idea if they had mastered the dance, was a bit overwhelming. We had about 80 dancers, plenty to fill up the gym floor, and they all stepped up just like young people do with technology, and the dance was fantastic. This was also a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness.
There was one halftime show that created a full-on proud mom moment. In 2003, after winning the world championships in Miami, our junior sportaerobic team was invited to perform at a WVU Men’s Basketball Game. It was electrifying. My daughter Morgan was on that team, so I was nervous and proud.
One constant about halftime shows: they are always available, and we are always ready to perform.