As jazz shoes glide across the gymnasium floor, the Texas Highsteppers prepare to take the floor for their annual event, Showoffs.
At the annual showoff event, dancers across the HighStepper team perform a variety of dances for their peers, teachers and family members. The event serves as a way for the team to gain a stronger sense of comfortability in regards to performing in front of a crowd before contest day.
“I think all of us HighSteppers really enjoy getting to show our friends, families and the community our competitions dances,” sophomore Vivien Glass said. “It’s so exciting getting to show everyone what we’ve been working on [in drill team] for a while.”
Each year, the team comes together to decide on a theme for their annual spring show, which determines the songs and styles they will take to the contest. This year’s theme centers around bringing board games and classic video games to life through expressive movement, storytelling and strong technique. Dancers spent hours planning each routine and experimenting with character work, musicality and timing to make each moment of the show feel truly special.
“The spring show theme this year is games and it represents board games, video games and card games,” freshman Karleigh Tazlynn said. “I am very excited for the theme this year because it has a lot of variety and can be super fun.”
The theme pushes the team to think creatively and work together in order to convey stories. Though each routine proves to be unique in a variety of ways, this year’s novelty routine, inspired by Super Mario, earned high marks at the first contest and serves as a fan-favorite among the girls on the team due to the comedic timing and athletic elements.
“Our novelty dance is probably my favorite dance I’ve ever done,” senior Bailey Hayes said. “The first we wore the entire costume, the whole team literally could not stop laughing.”
After perfecting the novelty routine, the HighSteppers began to work on their pom routine. A vibrant mashup that revolves around the game Candy Land, this routine transforms the gym into a sweet, pastel-colored world.
“This year, our pom dance is a mashup of many different songs revolving around everything sweet,” freshman Bailey Dowd said. “The dance itself is so much fun to do, and our costumes fit the theme perfectly.”
Finally, the team worked together to choreograph their iconic kick routine. This year’s routine centers around racing, and combines sharp movement with adrenaline filled performance in order to convey the story.
“The [kick] dance is inspired by a race,” Glass said. “It is such a fun dance to perform.”
As performances come closer each day, team members navigate through many emotions.
“Before we perform, I feel a mixture of excitement and nerves,” Dowd said. “I’m excited to show what we’ve been working so hard on, but also nervous because I want to perform my very best.”
Showoffs will take place on Feb. 10, 2026 at 6.p.m in the Tiger Center with free admission.
“We are really looking forward to showing the community our dances,” Hayes said. “[Performing at showoffs] also helps us to target what exactly needs to change for competition in order for us to look our absolute best.”
