CHOCOWINITY — Young ladies from Southside High School are combining the sport of cheer leading with the art of dancing during the school’s basketball season.

The newly founded SHS Dance Team will cheer for the Seahawks during basketball games and also entertain with dance routines during half time of the girls’ and varsity boys’ games, according to head coach Meredith Williams.

Williams offered to help fill a gap in the school’s sports program, according to Southside High School Principal Dale Cole.

“We are very excited to have the opportunity to offer a dance team to our students this year,” Cole said. “Initially, our new cheer leading coach could only commit to the football season, so we thought we might not have a cheer squad for basketball season.”

Williams, whose daughter Carley is a SHS student, is an experienced dance teacher and she felt her talents may be needed.

“Mrs. Williams brought this idea to us, and we loved the idea that we could have a dance team for basketball,” Cole said. “It offers an opportunity for other girls to get involved in something positive while creating school spirit. We are definitely excited to see how it will turn out in our first year.”

Joining Williams in preparing the team is assistant coach Shannon Braxton. Members of the dance team are Savannah Boyd, Logan Braxton, Miranda Crawford, Erica Ellison, Tajhe Harvey, Anasia Hill, Tiaree Hines, Kentasia Holley, Bridget Keyes, Taylor Miller, Shayla Moore, Lesley Tetterton, Rayna Tucker, Carley Williams and Nytaziya Wishop.

The girls have worked diligently to prepare for the upcoming season, according to Williams.

“I am very proud of all the hard work these girls have put into the dance team,” she said. “We started practicing last summer and they all have been very dedicated. It is hard to start anything new, but these girls have exceeded my expectations.”