Anxious freshman Alaina Moran stepped onto the floor to audition for her spot on Huntley’s varsity Orchesis team. As self-doubt engulfed her, it was soon eliminated by the kindness of her soon-to-be teammates. Four years later, she is now concluding her time with the team.

Jump to the 2017-2018 school year: as Moran enjoys her last few months living out her passion, she leaps through all her years involved with dance. Beginning with tap and ballet at the age of three, her roots had carried through to where she is today.

“Everything done in the past has helped [me improve],” Moran said.

She grew comfortable with her varsity team and their daily routines; the first two years were the same while coach Leslie Parrin took charge.

By her side since their freshman year, senior Mya Saucedo began the fall of 2014, while Moran began that summer. Their bond grew as they have danced through the years, so their personalities bouncing off each other and their teammates became inevitable. Moran and Saucedo grew as individuals, learning much along the way.

“Our communication grew,” Saucedo said. “Our collaborating has gotten better.”

After sophomore year, there was a change. Parrin moved and a new coach was coming, Samantha Scaccianoce.

“It was hard to adjust,” Moran said. “[We were] accustomed to Parrin’s ways.”

As Moran heads to the finish line with Saccianoce’s guidance, she is not certain how she will incorporate dance into her life if she so chooses.

“I want to either go to Tennessee or Carol University for nursing,” she said. “I want to try to get the feel of college first before I try dancing.”

Before she makes those decisions, she remembers when she started and how the team has evolved over the years. Her years of perfecting dance routines with countless hours of stress has made her a more confident dancer, a trait that will carry through as life goes on.

“I was so excited,” Moran said. “I was going to do something that I loved with people who shared the same feeling.”