Along with the band and color guard, a new addition has been added to the marching show: the Rhythm Dance Company. They differ from the color guard with their style of dancing and the exclusion of flags and rifles.

The idea was adopted from seeing other schools successfully use dance teams to enhance their marching shows. The Rhythm Dance Company is choreographed and led by the Royals’ directors. The program also helps the dancers gain performance and field time to become future Royals.

“I’m trying out for Royals in December,” sophomore Macy Sumrall said. “I wanted to get all of the practice and preparation that I could.”

As a whole, the dancers come together to produce a visually inspiring show for the audience with use of props and bright dresses.

“RDC brings the show more life,” Sumrall said. “It also makes certain parts of the band’s music more powerful.”

Individually, each girl is responsible for holding up her part in the routine and tying up the loose ends of the performance.

“I would say my role in the show would be to bring more flare,” freshman Alanah Eddleman said. “It brings more performance aspect to the show.”

RDC is featuring a “Fire Goddess” in the 2013 marching show, Playing With Fire. The fire goddess is performed by Cierra Birmingham, a freshman in the dance company.

“I set the field on fire,” Birmingham said. “I do different choreography from the rest of the Rhythm Dance Company.”

The Rhythm Dance girls rehearse and sit in the stands with the band. However, they eat and ride over to the games with the Royals.

“I love the girls I get to work with,” Sumrall said. “I also love the Friday night and competition performances.”

While the girls enjoy being in RDC, they all say they have the ultimate goal of becoming part of the Royals.

“I would love to move up from being with the Royals to be being a Royal,” Birmingham said. “Although, it will be hard to leave all the new amazing friends I have made.”