Choreographer And Assistant Emily Marks Moves Into Head Coaching Role With Dance Squad
Having served as a Newtown High School dance team assistant to Head Coach Cheryl Stenz last year, and been the team’s competition jazz choreographer and pom halftime choreographer, Emily Marks steps into the head coaching role with the Nighthawks following Stenz’s retirement.
“I am thrilled to continue working with this dance team in a larger capacity as the head coach. It is a pleasure to be able to work with such talented dancers and create memorable routines for them. Previous Head Coach Cheryl Stenz has created a dynamic program that I hope to continue and build upon,” Marks said.
While she was not on the dance team herself, Marks has many years of familiarity and experience with the squad. She has been Newtown’s jazz choreographer since the 2011-’12 season.
Senior captains are Adriana Russo, Paige Armstrong, Summer Gordon, and Grace Cappelli.
Other seniors are Molly Moran, Brenna Navin, and Olivia McAndrew. Juniors are Mackenzie Roszman, Sara Olam, Emma Formica, and Morgan Harrison. Sophomores are Devyn Reilly, Ashley Shrader, Lillian Caico, Lindsay Myer, Sienna Guaragno, Alexandra Kinsey, and Ava Warner. Freshmen joining the team are Piper Adolfson, Phoenix Sealey, Kathryn Kavovit, Kayla Sinapi, Sophia Martinez, Olivia Gulalo, Lila Spencer, and Aquinnah Schmidt.
Newtown was last year’s South-West Conference Jazz and Hip Hop Champion. At the State Championship, the Hawks were Jazz runners-up and came in third in Hip Hop.
“Our goal this year is to be an inclusive, unified team on and off the competition floor. We are striving to execute difficult routines to the best of our ability, have performances that captivate the audience, and would love to bring the state championship back home to Newtown this year,” Marks said.
The dance squad has been working hard practicing routines while performing at halftime of football games and will continue to do so throughout the winter, with appearances at basketball contests as the girls gear up for their championship season in February.
Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.