ASL Dance Team offers showcase of joy for all ability levels
West’s new Adapted Sports Dance League steals the spotlight with upbeat energy and high spirited pom routines. Started by senior Amiyah Thomas and West Door Monitor Melissa Troedel, the group allows students of all abilities to discover the joy of dance. The squad has taken center stage, performing at the Variety Show, the Herd Arena, and ASL games.
Thomas took inspiration from the students.
“I’ve been involved with Connected for a little bit, and I’ve created bonds with the kids,” she said. “I worked in the cafe since freshman year and got to build relationships and connections with them.”
Thomas knew there was a need for another dance team when students showed an interest but had no outlet to perform.
“Everyone should have the choice and chance to try something new and have the same opportunity as everyone else,” she said.
Coach Troedel saw the potential for the team after seeing the girls love for dance and performance.
“When watching the students during the ASL games, you could see they played music and everyone was always dancing, so I thought ‘why don’t we have an ASL dance team?’” she said.
Thomas collaborated with Troedel on all the logistical elements while managing her classload and leadership positions in multiple organizations like the BSU and the Miss Oshkosh Organization.
“It was a process to get it up and started and find dates that work with everyone and find games to perform at,” she said. “We had it up and running in a couple weeks”
Senior Isabella Alatorre was excited to join the team and share her skills with a larger audience.
“I love to dance and see my friends” she said.
The ASL Dance Team brings dancers and peer leaders together to form life long friendships. Sophomore Naika Troedel was excited at the opportunity of connecting with other students.
“I thought it would be fun and I could meet new people,” she said.
Though the team is the first of its kind at West, it’s already making waves in the community.
“We put a little clip out on Facebook and somehow the Herd saw that and reached out to ask us to perform at a game,” Coach Troedel said.
Thomas felt the high stakes event pushed the team to perform its best, even with the added anxiety.
“I was a little nervous dancing because it was a really big crowd, but by them being so happy and joyful that kind of pushed me to think ‘let’s not be nervous’ because they’re not nervous,” Thomas said. “They pushed me to calm down and they ended up doing so good.”
Dancers loved taking center stage in front of a roaring audience.
“It was amazing and there were a lot of people,” Alatorre said. “I was a little bit scared but I had my friends.”
The ASL Dance Team ensures that every student has a place to shine, on and off the dance floor.
“It’s a good idea for people like me who have a disability or can't be on the other dance team,” Troedel said.
Peer leaders like junior Sage Rutz love to feel the excitement of dancers on stage and during practices.
“It brings a smile on their face and gives them something to look forward to and lets them shine,” she said.
Coach Troedel choreographs each performance with the intent of giving each dancer a moment in the spotlight in front of their peers.
“Every time they get to perform for a student group they are so excited because they get to feel that sense of belonging,” she said.
Overall, the group has had incredible success in their first year, tripling their performance goal with the help of the community.
“We thought we would have maybe three performances but we ended up with nine for the year; for our first year, that’s pretty good,” Coach Troedel said.
Thomas reflects on the lessons the team taught her this year and will remember much more than the choreography after this season ends.
“I learned that everyone deserves the opportunity to try something new. With whatever situation you are in, anything can happen as long as you have the heart to do it and the heart to make it work” she said.
by Delaney Smith
Published March 2, 2026
Oshkosh West Index Volume 122 Issue V