“I wouldn’t be anywhere if I didn’t join band. It has opened many doors and opportunities for me and others to get into colleges such as Jackson State, Hampton, Alabama State, Central State, and South Carolina University.”
–Angela Martin, Proviso East Alumnus 2011
Angela Martin attended Proviso East High School from 2009 to 2011. She was known as a PYT dancer for the Proviso East Marching Band. Martin is my older sister and I also joined PYT following in her footsteps. I wanted to know about performance and practice days, her relationships with her coaches and her band members. I’m glad I asked, I learned a lot.
“I never wanted to join the team,” said Martin, “but my friend dragged me into it once Pirateers separated into PYT in 2009. There were flag dancers and then there were just dancers. Me and my friend tried out for dance and after a year I became captain. Entering that area of dance as a hip hop dancer was very difficult for me. I had to study dance styles and practice so we could perform and execute everything. We made up our own routines and got everything approved by the best dance coach, Mrs. Woodard.”
Martin has mentioned that joining band opened many doors for her. “I wouldn’t have had the pleasure of leaving the state to attend dance events and getting a scholarship for dance. I got to dance in parades such as the Bud Billiken. If it wasn’t for my band director and coach, I wouldn’t have had the chance to become a dancer at SCSU or have been granted 20 grand to be aa dancer. No dancer was ever granted that much money, so it was very special to me. If it wasn’t for band, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Band gave me a ticket out of Illinois.”
I wondered about the responsibility of being captain at the time and in response Martin said, “The pressure was always hard because of different personalities and with a lot of friends on the team, because when it’s time to practice, I took it very seriously and had to shut them down as friends but only in the dance room. I had to figure out everything and make sure everything was set up for coach and my teammates. I had a lot of responsibility, but I loved it.”
“I enjoyed everything about performances and getting ready. The energy that performances brought was everything to me. I remember performing by myself and I wasn’t even captain yet. I had a huge battle with a group of girls against me which was one of my crazy moments.” Maintaining friendships can be hard due to how competitive the dance world is. But, Martin states, “Dance was always worth it in the end.”
Being a dancer is difficult when it comes to friendships. You’re all sisters but you’re always competing with one another. There’s friendly competition but then there’s always drama. For example, I auditioned to be lead but my friend auditioned for the same thing. Going up against each other is always hard but no one’s spot is permanent. To keep your spot on the team, you must fight for it.
I think my sister would agree. “Even through all the stressful moments,” Martin said, “I wouldn’t change a thing about my band life.”
Joining after-school activities even just for fun can open many opportunities for you that you’d never think to take.
