By Minh Ngoc Le
Whether it is four pirouettes in a row or a perfectly straight leap, freshman Kaylie Do does it all. As one of the only freshmen on the Fountain Valley High School’s (FVHS) Varsity Dance Team, Do’s determination and skills are remarkable. She kicks, she leaps and she performs; her graceful moves capture countless attention from the audience in the room as the talented performer shows the world her power.
Do’s journey started at the young age of four when her parents signed her up for classes.
“My parents got me into ballet, but I liked jazz and hip-hop better,” Do said.
Making it onto the varsity team was no simple task for the dancer. Varsity team members are able to execute powerful movements, express their colors through performances, and transfer energy to the audience. And to Do, the enjoyment in dancing is just that.
“My favorite part [about dancing] is being able to express how I’m feeling that day,” Do said.
Dance is similar to a sport. Immense dedication and diligence are required to execute a skill proficiently. With her passion and love for dancing, Do landed in up to five of FVHS’ competitive dance teams this year, both in the hip-hop and jazz-lyrical category. FVHS’ competition dance team is an award-winning, well-known team for their strength and impressive choreography. They have been recognized as both national and state champions for numerous years.
Being on stage and performing in competitions is one of the best parts for Do.
“It feels amazing,” Do said. “Everything that you’ve put in and all the hard work you’ve paid finally gets to be shown.”
The dancer is known for her unique facial expressions and contagious energy.
“Kaylie already amazed me the moment I saw her at auditions,” senior teammate Tony Nguyen said. “She was so energetic and it shocked me how good she was. She made every single dance she did look like her own, from the execution of the dance to her facial expressions. I think definitely her strength is her ability to interpret a dance and make it her own and even adding her own style in there as well!”
For the talented dancer, the biggest inspiration is her teammates and the people dancing around her. Being the outgoing person she is, Do has already blended in well with her team. Her favorite memory so far is the summer bonfire, where the dancers bonded over toasted marshmallows and filming TikToks at the beach.
“This season, I’m the most excited for competitions—going [as a team] together, it’s going to be so fun,” Do said.
