Israa Howard and Yen Nguyen also contributed to this article
Every year, Junior Varieties gives students the opportunity to showcase their talents on stage. One group that stands out is Malden High’s AO Step Team. With bold dance moves, loud rhythms, and a lot of teamwork, their performances always catch the audience’s attention.
The Step Team has been an important part of Malden High for several years, particularly for students who enjoy performing and working together. This year, for the 86th annual Junior Varieties, Step Team members dedicated a lot of time for practice and preparations, working hard to put on the best performance for their show.
Senior Captain Taliyah Lauture explained that the team has continued “to grow so much” and bring more students together. For many students on the team, step is more than just performing. Lauture believes it creates strong connections between members as it “represents a family and a strong bond for many.”
Senior Oscar Luc shared how Step has always been he something looks forward to at any event. “Especially as a freshman I thought they were so cool.” Luc, as one of the only males, and the only Asian member on the team, shared how his experience has been so special to being part of a team that accepts him. Luc further added that each member brings their own personality to the team, which helps create a fun and positive environment.
“Students gain the skills of teamwork, synchronization, and discipline,” explained senior Christina Robinson, who added how step requires dedication similar to a sport, but still offers the social environment of a club. “It’s a good mix of serious work and fun community bonding,” Robinson further empathized the pivotal role that step played in her high school career by highlighting that “the Step Team is important for the school community because it fosters a place to be unapologetic, loud, heard, and welcomed by a group of so many people.”
The team began practicing in early December for JVs. “We usually work on cleaning up the steps so we sound more in unison or learning new parts of steps,” Robinson explained. Lauture expressed how there were many obstacles that made preparing for JVS more difficult such as, “getting everyone in the same place at the same time.,”
For Lauture, performing at Junior Varieties was both exciting and emotional, “but it was also a bittersweet moment” because it was her last time performing with the Step Team. Being part of the team since freshman year, stepping had become a significant part of her high school experience.
In the end, the Step Team’s performance at Junior Varieties showed more than just their talent on stage; it reflected months of hard work, dedication, and the strong bond between the members. For many students, the Step Team is not only a group to perform with, but also a community where students feel supported and connected. As the team continues to grow each year, they remain an important part of the school’s culture and spirit.
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