Fontbonne Has a New Dance Team

Sofia Zoida ‘29

After raising money for a new dance studio at last year’s Walkathon, and building it over the past summer, Fontbonne Hall Academy now has a dance team, and it has been going fantastically so far. The girls have been practicing since September to do fun and exciting things. 

Dance teacher Ms. Cirelli said, “Our goal is to perform at school sporting events, including basketball halftime shows, and hopefully some football games. We're also preparing our advanced dancers for a potential competition in January.” 

She continued, “In addition, I'm working on opportunities for the team to perform outside of Fontbonne, including professional sporting events. We're also bringing in guest choreographers and professional dancers to host workshops and help the girls develop their skills. Since this is our first year, we're focused on building a strong foundation while creating exciting opportunities for the future.”

The coaches on this dance team are Alysa Cirelli (Head Coach), Morgan, and Francesca (Assistant Coaches). They are wonderful teachers and they really help students improve technique and overall become stronger dancers. 

Ms. Cirelli explained her extensive background: “I've been teaching dance since I was 18 and have had the opportunity to perform, choreograph, and coach in both the entertainment and professional sports industries. I've choreographed and performed alongside several popular '90s freestyle artists at concerts and events, including Freestyle Free for All, Beatstock, and Disco Ball.” 

“I was also a professional dancer and cheerleader for the New York Lizards lacrosse team for three seasons and later coached the team for two seasons. In addition, I coached Wagner College's cheerleading team for two seasons and performed with an unofficial New York Giants cheerleading team. Some other highlights of my career include appearing in a 2014 Bud Light football commercial, performing as a dancer on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and having a cameo in America's Got Talent.” 

“I've been fortunate to experience dance from so many different perspectives, whether that's performing onstage, dancing professionally, choreographing, or coaching. Now, being able to bring that experience back to Fontbonne, where I was once a student myself, makes starting this dance team even more special.” 

She also said that what brought her and the other coaches into Fontbonne’s dance teams is “being a Fontbonne alumna [which] made this opportunity even more meaningful. I wanted to give back to the school and create something that future generations of Bonnies could be part of. I also wanted to bring in coaches who share the same passion for dance and helping young dancers grow.”

The dancers on the team also seem to be loving it so far. Sophomore Sara Medina said, “I’m really enjoying being on the dance team right now! I love dancing with everyone and getting to improve my skills. My goals for this season are to become a better dancer, improve my technique, gain more confidence, and make new memories with the team.”

We look forward to seeing what’s next for Fontbonne’s burgeoning dance program.