Dance.

It is one of the few sports that melds the arts and athleticism together; it requires elegance in movement, strength and control.

Last weekend, Lt. Captain Tori Vanschuyver was chosen to represent Willis on the Texas Dance Education Association All-State Dance team, a group of elite drill team dancers from all around the state. 

“For the all-state dance team one person from each high school drill team gets chosen by the director to attend,” Vanschuyver said. “It is under the director’s discretion if you’re ready to represent your team at the event.”

With 14 years of dance experience under her belt and the several leadership positions she has held in the past, it’s no surprise that Vanschuyver was chosen to represent this school.

“I’ve been in dance since I was around two,” Vanschuyver said. “I started competitively dancing around ten or eleven years old. I made the middle school drill team and was part of that team for two years and was able to be one of the captains my second year.”

Much of Vanschuyver’s motivation toward dance comes from her older sister, who had also been a Sweetheart during her time at this school.

“My sister had previously been on the Sweethearts, and it had become my goal to follow in her footsteps and join the team,” Vanschuyver said. “When I made the team my freshman year, my goal changed to making an officer position as a sophomore. When I became Sophomore Lieutenant in my second year on the team, I was thrilled[…] It was a very proud moment for my sister and I. Now as a junior, I serve as a lieutenant captain, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Vanschuyver has big goals of continuing her career in dance throughout college at Texas State University.

“After high school, I plan to attend Texas State and dance on the TXST Strutters,” Vanschuyver said. “The TXST Strutters offer two elite dance teams: the Jazz Elite and the Pom Squad. I plan to try out for one or both of these teams my freshman year in hopes of pushing my dance ability in college.”

Members of the All-State dance team are required to attend a rigorous three-day convention.

“The convention was definitely very stressful and difficult,” Vanschuyver said. “I was one of the few juniors that got picked to attend, but the atmosphere at the convention was so friendly and everyone was so nice. I met so many new friends that I’m going to have for a lifetime.

The three-day convention consisted of 13-hour days, with breaks only for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

“It was definitely not designed for the weak and pushed me super hard,” Vanschuyver said. “ The experience was so much fun, and I am so grateful that I was able to attend. I learned so many new things that I am so excited to take into the rest of my dance career.”