And 5,6,7,8. Don’t forget the dance. Smile. Don’t run into anyone. Be careful. Don’t mess up.

Will I make it?

For 96 girls, this question will be answered this week after months of preparation for dance auditions.

“I am a little nervous because I’m not a strong technical dancer, that’s not my strong suit,” freshman Angelina Barba said. “But I’ve been working really hard and stretching every day to make sure my technique is at the level needed to make Royals.”

Sophomore Daniella Tarango knows the feeling. She survived the tryouts last year.

“I was thinking ‘Do not to slip’,” Tarango said. “Well, obviously some people are thinking ‘I hope I don’t mess up’. And I was just like I need to remember this dance, but also have you know showmanship and everything like that in front of the judges.”

The girls trying out attended a two-hour clinic Thursday, Dec. 5 in the MPR and then will try out Tuesday, Dec. 10 starting at 4:30 p.m. in the MPR. The list will be posted on the RHS Dance website Friday, Dec. 13 at 4:30 p.m.

The tryouts might be nerve-racking for the girls, but not for director Amy McKee.

“Our captain choreographs the audition routine and she will teach the audition routine,” McKee said. “And then I just basically sit in on auditions. So it’s not very stressful. It’s exciting.”

Eighteen sophomores were added to the Royals last year. All Tarango could think about was if she had made it. The list was posted the Friday before Winter break.

“I was in disbelief,” Tarango said. “Because you have to go on the website and you look for your number. And going through the numbers I was just like so nervous. And then I saw my number and I was just like so excited. I was just like I get to be a Royal I get to be on this team.

Last year’s audition process is not going to be much different from this year’s. The only true difference is that the clinic is one day instead of two.

“I’m pretty concerned because I’m not the fastest at picking up dances,” freshman Amy Rowles said. “So I have to go over it several times before I can actually pick up one section. And then I have to go over the dance several times to be able to put it all together on time, with the counts, and make sure I’m doing to technique correctly. But we will have to music so hopefully that will help a little bit.”

Outside judges are hired to decide who makes the Royals, Dazzlers and Rhythm Dance Company. McKee tells them what skills are needed for each team and they make all the decisions.

“I am pretty confident in myself,” Rowles said. “I’ve learned to not get my hopes up from past experiences. I’ve learned to be humble and not set too high expectations.”