In the mornings freshman dance captain Emmie Range often starts the day by saying, “Alexa, play ‘Under the Sea.’”

The upbeat song helps start her day right. Range’s days are filled with music and dance. She is in JV theater and JV dance. Her days now end at “The Little Mermaid” rehearsal, where she learns music, plans dances and teaches those dances to her fellow castmates.

“My process so far has been to use the beats and lyrics in the dance and put them into dance moves and just trying different things,” Range said  “Challenges so far have been making time outside of school to start working on choreography.” 

Along with the large cast size each song has a unique dance style. The musical includes large dance numbers, tap dance and duet dances. 

“We want a dance crew of people that can take the lead and stand in the front row,” theater director Brandi Perkins said.

Range first started dancing when she was 2. She also took ballet, gymnastics and cheer. She loved performing and being on stage, so in her 8th grade year she joined advanced theater 2 at KMS.

“I was in a production of ‘Wild Strawberries’ and I actually got the lead role,” Range said. “I love going out there and singing and dancing.”

When she auditioned she didn’t know dance captain was a role she could get. 

“I felt very honored getting a leadership role and that position,” Range said. “I’m happy to help teach everybody else.”

While casting, the creative team knew they wanted not only a team of people to help teach castmates but someone to lead the cast in dance.  When asked which student would make the best dance captain, dance teachers Cyndi Vaughn and Megan Cox suggested Range. 

“She is infinitely patient and infinitely kind and creative,”  Perkins said, “all the things Ms. Vaughn said she would be.”