By Murray Gleffe, Correspondent
Name: Laney LeMere
Activity: Dance
Twitter: @laneylemere
Laney LeMere is a senior member of the Ashwaubenon dance team who have won numerous awards/events in 2017-18. Here are a few that Laney has been a part of.
At Regionals, the team placed first in Kimberly and then carried that momentum over to State.
At State (La Crosse), the Jaguars finished first in Division 1 Kick, and third in Division 2 Pom.
It was the first time in school history that a Jaguars dance squad had finished on top for a kick routine competition.
What is it like to be a leader on the dance team at Ashwaubenon High School? “It’s a lot of fun to be able to help the younger dancers with turns, jumps, and other skills! It means a lot to me that I get the chance to set good examples for them, both in and out of dance/school.”
What is your most embarrassing moment ever in dance? “Last year, my friend Julia and I did a duet together that we performed at some of the invitationals throughout the winter. At one competition, I turned around and did a kick to the back–only to accidently kick her in the face! I felt really bad afterwards, and even now the thought of that part of the routine still makes me cringe a little.”
How many years have you been involved in dance? “I’ve been in dance ever since I was two, so 16 years in total. I took rec classes at Barb’s for 10 years before joining a competition team there for two years. I made the AHS team my freshman year, and this is my forth year on the team.”
What is your most memorable moment? “That’s a tough choice because I’ve made so many memories with this team. One moment I will never forget is becoming 2018 state champions in D1 Kick last weekend! Our team has worked so hard this year, and I couldn’t imagine a better ending to my last year of dance. A close second would be when my team went to Nationals in FL last March–we were national champions in pom, and I grew really close with all of my teammates by the end of that trip.”
What’s the hardest part about performing at a dance competition? “The nerves and anxiousness are always hard before a routine, and there’s always a feeling of ‘what if I mess something up’. It’s also sometimes hard to switch mindsets between pom, kick, and jazz when we’re competing at them all throughout the day of a competition.”
If you could be somebody for a day, who would it be? “Someone who is good at calculus! That class gives me a headache.”
What are your college aspirations? “I’ll be going to the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities next year to hopefully major in genetics and cell biology. After that, I’d like to go to dental or med school.”
What would your dream job be once you graduate? “My dream job is to be some type of surgeon; as of right now, I’m thinking about oral surgery.”
What are your hobbies? “Outside of dance, I’m really big into music! I play flute in the school’s band, and I love listening to all kinds of songs in my free time. I also like reading, watching Netflix, and studying/hanging out with my friends.”
What is your favorite sporting event ever attended? “The Ashwaubenon win over Southwest in football last year. It was the longest and highest scoring game of the season, and it was great to be a part of the student section that night! Most of the football games were exciting, but that one definitely stands out in my mind.”
What is your favorite type of music? “Pop, alternative, and rap, but I’ll listen to just about anything except country.”
What is your favorite thing to do on your phone? “I like to check social media, especially Instagram and Snapchat.”
What three words describe you? “Motivated, kind, passionate”
What is your favorite trip ever taken? “Last spring break, my family and I went to Arizona to visit my grandma. We then rented a RV near Phoenix and drove through Arizona, Nevada, and California. Along the way we stopped in places like Las Vegas, Sequoia National Park, and San Francisco. It was awesome, and a great way to travel! I wasn’t really expecting to have as much fun as I did, but my family and I had a really good time.”
Favorites:
Food:
Pasta
Subject:
Science
TV Show:
Criminal Minds, Person of Interest, Grey’s Anatomy
Athlete:
Chloe Kim (Olympic snowboarder)
Board Game:
The Game of Life
Candy:
Twix or Mike and Ike’s
Ice Cream:
Mint Chocolate Chip
Holiday:
Christmas
Season:
Winter
Comments on Laney LeMere: “Laney is a dedicated member of this team,” said Drew Meinl, Ashwaubenon Dance Coach. “She understands the composition of music and can clearly express the correct emotion for whatever style she is dancing. She did very well with her solo placing in the top half at most competitions during the duration of the season.”