Gold in Motion: Bogue Chitto finds its groove

Published 10:01 am Sunday, September 7, 2014

KATIE WILLIAMSON / Riley Watts pumps up the Bobcat spirit at Gold in Motion's first performance

KATIE WILLIAMSON / Riley Watts pumps up the Bobcat spirit at Gold in Motion’s first performance

From school spirit to jazz squares, Bogue Chitto’s Gold in Motion dance team is prepared to shine this football season on Troy Smith Field.

KATIE WILLIAMSON / Kaylee Brown shows off her skills at Bogue Chitto's first pep rally.

KATIE WILLIAMSON / Kaylee Brown shows off her skills at Bogue Chitto’s first pep rally.

The new dance team will work hard to keep the fans’ enthusiasm high through this season’s games. The team is comprised of 15 girls: Kaylee Brown, Taylor Pickett, Shelby Godbold. Kara Crosby, Kacy Bui, MaKeirah Smith, Kaylin Heckard, DeDe Glover, Skila Cabrera, Kinley Douglas, Camy Givens, Leslie Moak, Riley Watts, Kayden McKnight and Briley Smithers, and leading the pack is Melane Crosby.

“We’re really excited about giving the girls the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than themselves,” Crosby said. “It’s another fascinating jewel to Bogue Chitto’s crown.”

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While the coach couldn’t get over how hard her girls have worked, the girl’s themselves bragged on the inclusiveness of the group.

“There’s no drama,” Cabrera said. “We’re not segregated. We’re all one family.”

KATIE WILLIAMSON / From head to toe, Leslie Moak shows of her Big Gold pride.

KATIE WILLIAMSON / From head to toe, Leslie Moak shows of her Big Gold pride.

Some of the girls have never formally danced before, but others have been doing it their whole life.

“I’ve been dancing since I could walk,” Godbold said.

Brown had quit dancing because of cheerleading, but with the introduction of Gold in Motion, she got to have her cake and eat it too.

Godbold said part of the fun has been to see how much the girls have learned.

“It’s amazing to see we’ve improved so much,” she said. “It’s cool to see who’s getting better.”

For these 15 girls, the journey began in March. The girls range from seventh to 11th graders, and Crosby said she specifically was looking for hard-working girls.

“I was looking for those who were trying their best,” she said.

KATIE WILLIAMSON / Camy Givens shows off her sassy side.

KATIE WILLIAMSON / Camy Givens shows off her sassy side.

So far, Crosby thinks the team has worked out for the best.

“They pick on each other,” she said, “but they’re really protective of each other.”

This year, Crosby’s goal for the girls is to build a foundation, so that next year and every year after, Gold in Motion will only become better. But the girls won’t just stop at football support. They perform at pep rallies and are looking to be at the basketball games. Crosby also hopes to do a peewee dance clinic in the fall.

“I’m just so proud of the ways they’ve come together from different age levels and come together as a team,” Crosby said.

You can see the Gold in Motion girls at the Bogue Chitto home games during halftime this fall. The gold sequin jackets won’t be the only thing to catch your eye.