The UHS Dance Department and Golden Cats dance team offer important variety to the arts at Ukiah High School.
The dancers and coaches work hard all year long, demonstrating their enthusiasm and commitment in both school and community performances.
Juliette Shepard, a Junior, shared, “My favorite part about dance is being able to meet others who are interested in dance as much as I am, and making connections through our shared passion.”
Junior Jelissa Ram said, “My favorite event to perform at is the Pumpkin Fest; we get to show the community what we’re able to do and showcase everything we’ve done, as well as all the work we’ve put in throughout the year.”
Dance coach and biology teacher Rachel Porter plays an important role in the Wildcat dance department alongside Kate McCarthy. The two coaches work together to create new routines and bring their visions to life. Beyond choreographing dances, both coaches keep the department, and each other, organized and motivated.
McCarthy says, “We became friends because I heard there were dance tryouts, and I thought, I’m just going to offer any support she wants, and she took it. It’s an honor that she let me into the team when she didn’t have any reason to trust me, but she just put her trust in me, and it felt like a blessing and a gift.”
Porter expressed that Kate McCarthy “has single-handedly been the rock and the cornerstone of our program. She is the definition of a yes woman; she has always been a mentor to me, and she’s the one who has encouraged me to go big or go home with my ideas. This program would not be the program without her.”
If you would like to support the dance department, check out tomorrow’s performance, November 13th, at 7:00 pm in the Cafetorium.
See you there!
Sarae Lorenzo
Sarae Lorenzo is a junior taking her first-ever journalism class! She grew up in Fort Bragg, lived there for 10 years, and later moved to Redwood Valley. Sarae takes an interest in many subjects, such as art, English, history, and any class involving writing. She has numerous hobbies, including swimming, hanging out with her friends, traveling, and baking. After high school, she hopes to get into beauty school or go to college for a Psychology degree.
Paisley Wood
Paisley Wood is a junior taking her first year of Journalism. She currently lives in Ukiah but was born in Missouri. Her hobbies are writing poetry, art, and playing the guitar. Her favorite subjects are creative writing, math, and history. In her free time, she loves hanging out with her friends and traveling to new places. After she graduates, she wants to either go to beauty school or college and get a teaching license.
