Miami Palmetto Senior High’s dance team, the Variations, has won competitions left and right for years. The team comprises experienced dancers, some of whom have been in the dance community since birth. However, the team’s success is not only luck, the dedication of those who choreograph all of their performances make it possible. Having student choreographers allows students to express themselves through dance and break out of their shells. 

“It can be challenging sometimes, especially with shy students, but enabling them to choreograph their own dances helps them step out of their comfort zones and feel more comfortable sharing their style with everyone else,” Variations Coach Jimena Grande said. “Working on events is such a fun experience because it allows my girls to connect with one another and become not just a team, but a family. As stressful as those events may feel, they all come together to support one another and be there for each other.”

Grande danced for 12 years, starting when she lived in Spain and continuing her passion after moving to Miami, Fla.. She became a coach for Variations to extend her passion to other choreographers and taught students how to choreograph and put together dances for competitions. 

“The majority of our dances are choreographed by dance professionals like NFL cheerleaders, NBA dancers or even an NBA dance coach. These girls have had the enormous opportunity to work with these amazing people and learn the beautiful routines that they have performed throughout the year,” Grande said.

While choreographers are influenced heavily by coaches, their influence carries down into the passion of the younger dancers. 

“The choreographers are super supportive and they make our dances really good for competition,” freshman and Variations dancer Danielle Schwartz said. “And they make us win, even when we’re opposed by really competitive teams. They are always there for us if we need support on anything. One of our choreographers, Emma. She’s a senior, and she did an amazing job on our pieces, leading us to a state championship.”

The student choreographers have created dances used in competitions against over 100 dance studio and school teams in the area, such as the Riviera Rockettes and Coral Reef Cudettes.