March 2016
FEATURES
The Southwest Portland Post • 5
Wilson alum strives to revive dance teams for Jackson, Gray middle schools
By KC Cowan
The Southwest Portland Post
Whatever happened to the dance
team at Wilson High School? Once
one of the premier activities at Wilson,
young women endured tough auditions
with fierce competition to win a coveted
spot as a “Trojane.”
The team would dance halftime
performances at football and basketball
games. They had great uniforms and
were looked up to in the school. But
while other Portland high schools have
dance teams, Wilson hasn’t had one
since 2013.
High school students have so many
activity choices these days, it makes
sense that some long-time clubs may
fall by the wayside, because of waning
popularity.
“There are a lot of different options for
high school students,” said Gina Aman
of the Portland School District athletics
office. “Sports, clubs, academics. Kids
are pulled in multiple directions so it’s
hard to figure out where they want to
go.”
One former Wilson alum, however,
is doing her best to revive the tradition.
Maureen Berrie-Lawson was a
Trojane herself, as she jokingly puts it,
“…back when the earth was cooling.”
She has nothing but fond memories of
performing and competing on dance
team.
“You know how people ask you
what teacher had a profound effect on
your schooling?” she asked. “One of
my answers is Mrs. Lee, who was my
dance team coach at Wilson. Mrs. Lee
wasn’t a great dancer, but she was fair
and kind and we still trained hard and
won many first place titles.”
Now Berrie-Lawson is the coach and
choreographer. She is not starting her
dance team at Wilson, however. Her
earlier efforts last year failed to build
any steam.
“Mostly, because there are no funds,
no practice space, and no administrators
have time to lend support. Without
proper support, the participants will
not come.”
So instead, Berrie-Lawson is trying
to build support and enthusiasm for
dance team at Robert Gray and Andrew
Jackson middle schools.
“By building a dance program at the
middle school level, we can entice the
interested and talented individuals at
an age to build a very strong program
and continue through high school and
beyond,” she said. “I met with district
athletic director Marshall Haskins and
then dance and cheer director Gina
Aman in the district athletic office
and we devised a middle school pilot
project. If we are successful at Jackson
and Gray, we will assist other Portland
middle schools to build a similar
program.”
West Sylan currently has a dance team
and Sellwood has had dance programs
for the past 15 years, as does Da Vinci.
So there is enthusiasm for dance teams
from the district, though not much in
the way of financial support. Travel
expenses to competitions can run
Middle schoolers try out for dance team. Left to right in the kickline are Ruby Minato,
Amelia Winkelman, Uma Freeman, Aslan Newson, Mya Gray, Aria Morgan, Audrey
Carlson. (Post photo by KC Cowan)
about $500, with another $250 for the
competition fees.
“We pay for competition costs, and
try to help with transportation costs and
uniforms,” said Aman. “We help them
out to get a discounted rate. We’re not in
a financial position to pay for coaches.
But my hope is we’ll have it across the
board, eventually.”
Berrie-Lawson and others are
stepping up in a volunteer capacity
to do just that. She is Head Coach and
choreographer.
“As of now, Jerry Watson Jr., a
graduate of Parkrose Dance Team,
is assistant coach and we have some
interested parties waiting in the wings
to join us,” she said. “There is not a
single coach that expects to get rich
leading a sport. We do it expecting the
gratification will be knowing that we’ve
helped build character in our youth and
because we love it.”
The first round of auditions took
place in February—the first steps
towards rebuilding a tradition that
Berrie-Lawson says can be a life changer
for some girls
“Dance team had a huge impact on
shaping me into the person I am today
more than anything else I can think
of from my youth. I can remember
wanting to dance so badly, I couldn’t
imagine my life if I didn’t make it on the
team! All young people have to have a
desire or passion they identify with at
work in their lives. If that isn’t esteem-
building, I don’t know what is.”
Girls interested in joining the dance
team must be currently in fifth grade
and plan on attending Wilson High
School as a freshman. Contact Maureen
Berrie-Lawson at grumpyswife925@
gmail.com
503  291  0000
www.fearfreedental.com
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