Turf showers up as boots click against the ground. Hats flick up, pink ribbon glimmers in the stadium lights, and familiar beats fly through the air. The Legacies are ready to perform.
The Legacies dance team dedicates their time toward performing at games, pep rallies, and competitions. They practice every morning before school in the dance gym, learning and cleaning new dances.
“Legacies are set apart from other drill teams in Texas because of our discipline,” sophomore Claire Butler said. “We work hard every morning because our directors push everyone to go one step farther no matter how tired we may be.”
The Legacies spend their fall season performing halftime at varsity football games. At halftime, the band plays them onto the field as they kick, leap, and turn to songs such as “Magnificent Seven” and “Runaway Baby.”
“I remember watching the Legacies perform at the young age of eight and falling in love with them,” senior Lieutenant Colonel Kassie Wissen said. “From there I would watch them perform at the football games and would go to their annual spring show.”
Holly Lyons, assisted by Alexa Olson, directs the Legacies by leading rehearsals, cleaning dances, and directing the leadership team. Along with directing the Legacies, Lyons and Olson teach multiple dance classes on campus including Dance Team Prep and dance levels one through four.
“Our assistant director, Mrs. Olson, inspires me to be a better dancer,” senior Social Captain Victoria Kennedy said. “She is the reason I stuck with dance in middle school, and [she] has always believed in me and my potential, even when I didn’t believe it myself.”
The Legacies’ leadership team includes five line officers who guide through dances and start the team performance with their officer field routine to “Brand New Day,” played by the band. The social officers help raise morale by encouraging team-bonding through games.
“Building confidence on Legacies has been a steady journey that required me to learn how to make thoughtful decisions not just for myself, but for the whole team,” Wissen said. “Through this experience, I’ve come to understand that true leadership means putting the team’s needs first and acting with care and responsibility.”
Auditions take place annually in December, and are combined with tryouts for the Vision Dance Company. Those who try out learn one jazz and one contemporary combination, as well as a technique sequence. This helps show each dancer’s range of skills and personal style.
“My directors inspire me to become a better dancer by opening doors to many opportunities for growth,” Wissen said. “They’ve helped me enhance not only my dance skills but also my leadership abilities.”
Although Legacies is only open for incoming sophomores through seniors, incoming freshmen can choose to take Dance Team Prep as a class. The class is focused on improving form and learning skills essential for drill teams such as jump kicks, turns, and flexibility.
“Dance has taught me to never doubt myself and always try new things,” junior Olivia Baltera said. “Even if I don’t get it right the first try, I can always learn from my mistakes.”
The Legacies have been invited to perform in the 2026 London New Year’s Day Parade. They will travel to London toward the end of December, performing two routines along the parade route. The Legacies’ performance, as well as the parade, will be streamed on PBS for public viewing.
“A moment that changed my perspective in dance was over summer rehearsals,” Butler said. “I was so tired and wanted to give up but saw my teammates pushing through and never giving less than 100%.”
Every April, the Legacies put on their spring show, Vanguard. This showcases full company and officer dances from the Legacies, along with performances from the Vision Dance Company, the Canyon Ridge Middle School Dyami Dance Team, the Four Points Middle School Majestics Dance Team, and dance classes at the school.
“I knew I wanted to join Legacies in seventh grade when I first saw them perform,” Kennedy said. “This is when my love for dance grew and I knew I wanted to pursue it in high school.”
Aside from putting on Vanguard, the Legacies also participate in competitions every spring. They are the current 2025 regional and national Ascension Grand Champions and will compete to hold their title on March 7 at Texas State University.
“I think when we won nationals last year,” Kennedy said, “I realized how competing is less about you and more about dancing for the people on your team.”
