Anna Lee Cahill is beginning her first season dancing for the Livingston Academy Lady Wildcats, bringing a background in cheerleading and a willingness to learn to the team.
Before joining the dance team, Cahill spent two years cheering for the Livingston Middle School Tigers during basketball season. She also cheered for the Overton County Cats football team the following year. Despite that experience, Cahill said she did not initially plan to participate in sports once she reached high school. Cahill said that plan changed after encouragement from her friend Caitlin, who convinced Cahill to give the dance team a chance.
“I was not going to do really any sports in high school,” Cahill said. “I was going to focus on school. And then [Caitlin] called me one day and she was like, Anna, we need you on the dance team. Come on, you have to go dancing for me. Do it for me. And I was like, well, I needed a sport to do anyway…so she convinced me.”
Cahill joined the Lady Wildcats by attending a team practice during the middle of the season. Because of the timing, Cahill said the practice functioned as an informal tryout.
While her previous cheer teams did not include dance elements in their routines, Cahill said cheerleading helped prepare her for several aspects of the dance team, including cadence, energy and performance presence.
“You have to be loud for some of the dances that we have,” Cahill said. “Also you have to be really smiley, which is a big part of cheer, and stiff with your movements and you have to go through with every movement, which is also a big part of cheer.”
Cahill said the transition from middle school cheer to high school dance was challenging due to the number of new skills required. Cahill said one of the biggest adjustments was learning how important volume is to performance.
“We bring a lot of spirit and if you aren’t loud, then you can’t bring that spirit,” Cahill said. “It’s really important that the fans hear you and all your [loudness.]”
Cahill said dance demands constant energy and precision, with routines built around fluid movements, eight counts and a variety of technical skills, all while maintaining visible enthusiasm. Cahill currently dances for the Lady Wildcats during basketball season.