The thumping beat of music flows through the air as junior Avery Ross steps into the room, ready to embark on the next chapter of her dance journey. Though she began dance training at 8 years old, the 2025-26 school year marks her rookie year on the varsity drill team.
“I’m known to be a very talkative and bubbly person, but when it comes to new environments, especially school, there’s always been a disconnect between outside dance and my relationship with people at school,” Ross said. “I feel like drill team has been a really good bridge to bond the two, and I feel like it’s given me a good community of people I can rely on and have a real connection with.”
Ross began her dance career at Stagedoor Dance Centre after she transitioned from competitive cheerleading. She participated in jazz, tap, hip-hop and ballet, and eventually joined the competition team. She competed for seven years before transitioning to the Drill team.
“With studio, you grow up with those kids, and they see you go through a lot of change in your life. They’re the same people you see every single day, and that’s what I’ve had since I was eight,” Ross said. “Having people that know how I react to things, knowing what I look like when I’m having a bad day and knowing every single thing about my life, and then having to completely restart those connections with a different team was extremely hard.”
Though Ross joined drill team as a junior, members of the drill team usually experience their rookie season as underclassmen.
“Being a rookie as a junior can be difficult because sometimes you feel like you have missed out,” Ross said. “I think my biggest struggle has been not necessarily fitting in because they’re extremely welcoming, but it has been hard just almost playing that catch-up game.”
As Ross continues to learn traditions, rules and expectations of drill team, she said she creates connections with her new teammates.
“Drill team has provided a great community of people that you can talk to about dance, but also have very vulnerable and open conversations,” Ross said. “Something that I love about drill team is getting to hear about so many mindsets, cultures and so many other types of personalities.”
Though Ross feels positively about her time on drill team so far, she also feels that she has worked through some difficult moments.
“I think the most difficult thing is when it gets tiring and stressful to remember that we are a team,” Ross said. “So when it gets hard, it’s hard. Just having to remind everybody to continuously push through when it gets stressful or busy or whatever it may be.”
Ross participates in several styles of dance, including pom, hip hop, jazz and lyrical. She performs at football games, pep-rallys and even secured a space on the district team.
“I think my favorite part of football season is getting to have a new routine every two weeks that we practice and perform,” Ross said. “We’re up in the stands working so hard the whole game, which a lot of people don’t know. I think that my most favorite part of football season is halftime. That’s when you know a drill team is coming out to dance, now everyone’s watching.”
The Silver Spurs hold and attend outside of school events, such as Move Camp, to prepare for their season.
“Move camp stood out to me because that’s when I first got to see how this season is going to play out,” Ross said. “I got to see everybody in their element, working hard and just being a team. MOVE camp was really special to me because I am stepping into something that I already love, but a new version of it. I got to see all of these new people that I’m about to spend a lot of my life with working really hard outside of a friendship aspect, and that was really cool.”
Not only does Ross work to find her place within her teammates, but she also said she works toward a better relationship with her coach.
“Getting to know [Thomas] on more of a teacher before a coach was really special and impacted me in a lot of ways,” Ross said. “I got to know her on a different level, and she got to know me on a different level. Getting to know her as a coach was really special because you can just see how much she cares.”
Drill Team Director Alexandria Thomas and Ross transferred to Legacy for the 2024-25 school year, but their student-teacher relationship began before that. During Ross’ freshman year, she participated in Mansfield High School’s dance class.
“I heard about how [Thomas] cared about everyone and how dance really is her life and her passion, and she wanted that for us before I was on the team,” Ross said. “Getting to have that connection with her as a coach was really awesome.”
Ross and Coach Thomas work together to ensure that the transition into drill team is seamless.
“I think what impressed me the most about Avery upon her joining this team was how quickly she adapted to the expectations of the program,” Coach Thomas said. “[For example] responding with “yes ma’am” and being attentive to every teacher and clinician that comes through the door.”
Throughout the three years Coach Thomas has taught Ross, she has attempted to persuade her to join drill multiple times.
“I think Avery has been impacted by the demand and commitment it takes to be a team of excellence,” Coach Thomas said. “I think she automatically assumed, like most outsiders do, that drill team isn’t really dance and it is ‘too easy’. But now that she is fully invested in it – I think she admires the work it takes and also has a new outlook on what drill team really is.”
Coach Thomas works with every member of drill team to ensure that they feel prepared for their upcoming events, and uses this opportunity to observe the culture of the team.
“Avery is great, she has come a long way,” Coach Thomas said. “She has overcome a lot of things, but seeing her persevere through them and hold true to her truth and faith is something that is impactful. Avery is also someone who makes mistakes and learns from them – she always holds herself accountable and doesn’t shy away from hard conversations to improve herself and how she shows up every day.”
Varsity drill team members attend practice every day during first period. During this time, members condition their bodies and practice dances to ensure that they feel confident in their dances.
“Avery came from a studio environment to a dance team, which is different in so many ways but in many ways the same,” Coach Thomas said. “She has transitioned well and I think being on drill team is really shaping the way she shows up as a teammate. She works hard and holds herself accountable.”
Ross participates in several faith-based activities, including church and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Coach Thomas said Ross brings these values with her throughout practices.
“I think Avery sets a good example by taking in the things the directors need and say and does her best to implement that every day,” Coach Thomas said. “I always ask for leaders on the floor to keep up morale or even just a response in general. I also think her outward faith is something that others admire. I love that Avery doesn’t shy away from sharing that with others.”
Though Ross followed a different path to drill team than most, she feels that she made the best choice for herself.
“Being a rookie late on top of being around a completely new school and completely new people was really intimidating, but it’s been a great experience,” Ross said. “I would have done it all over again.”
