For Livingston Academy freshman dance Praize Hoffman, joining the Wildcats’ dance team was not just a new activity, it was the realization of a goal she had quietly carried for years.
Hoffman enters her freshman season with three years of dance experience, but her path to Livingston Academy dance did not begin the way she expected. Initially, Hoffman tried out for Livingston cheer, continuing the path she followed at Livingston Middle School, where she cheered for the past two years. It was not until encouragement from a close friend that Hoffman reconsidered and shifted her focus to dance, a decision she said changed everything.
Since making the switch, Hoffman has seen dramatic growth in both skill and confidence.
“I’ve improved drastically,” Hoffman said. “It’s insane, I used to not know what a pirouette was, [and] I knew what a leap was, but not in the way they did it.”
Hoffman’s interest in dance had been building long before her official tryout. While cheering at football games in middle school, Hoffman said she often watched the Livingston Academy dance team perform from the sidelines as her brother competed on the field. Those moments planted the idea that she wanted to be part of the team herself one day.
That dream became reality during the 2025 football season, when Hoffman completed her first season performing with the Livingston Academy dance team. Hoffman said dancing under the Friday night lights was an experience she describes as unforgettable.
“It was so nerve racking but it felt unreal,” Hoffman said. “It was so majestic, that’s the best word I could put out for it, it was so beautiful to be out on the field with all those people.”
Hoffman made her debut performing the Wildcats’ fight song routine and participating in the team’s touchdown celebrations, drawing energy from the crowd’s reaction throughout the season. Hoffman said the support from fans and teammates alike left a lasting impression on the freshman.
“I’m just so grateful for my team, and the crowd, and everything I’ve gotten to do,” Hoffman said.
While Livingston Academy’s dance program maintains a strong presence at school events and regional competitions, the team’s foundation is built on growth, performance, and unity, values Hoffman said she has felt since day one. As the Wildcats transition into basketball season, Hoffman said her focus is on continuing to strengthen the bond within the team.