Poms, which this year has returned to ERHS, is a collective dance team that performs at halftime during football and basketball games, pep rallies, and competitions throughout the area. Although the club consists of 28 female members, males are welcome to join.

Coach Brooks, the head of Poms and a Roosevelt alumni, says that she plans to bring back the club’s former glory. “Poms has actually been around since I graduated in 2009, but has been gone since 2011. I brought it back because I was on the team, and I really loved dancing, so I was like, ‘Why not bring it back?’

There are many things that sets Poms apart from other clubs. “We [incorporate] different disciplines as far as ballet, jazz, and hip-hop, which is something that cheerleaders do not do,” states Coach Brooks. Coach also added that “it’s good to see each team striving.”

Poms has many plans for the school year. One event that Poms has already planned for the is Universal Dance Association camp, which will incorporate dance training and conditioning in order to prepare for competitions with other schools around the country.

There was a lot of positive feedback from the dancers about being in Poms squad. “I like it a lot!,” said Niyah George, a junior. “I love how it’s a mix of cheer and choreography. Being the co-captain of the team, I handle responsibilities such as getting the girls to stretch, getting them ready for practice, etc.” When asked if she was planning on being on Poms squad in the future, she stated, “Very much so. I plan on doing this next year, until I graduate.” Poms team captain, senior Sausha Hall, said the Poms squad experience was overall “fun.” “I like the people on the team. Overall, it’s been really good, and we haven’t had many problems,” she said.

The other Poms team captain, junior Shawn Devonish, described some of the responsibilities that entail with being a leader of the team. “As captain, we set the example,” said Devonish.  She added, “For example, we would want our team to have grace while dancing, so we would have to show them what grace looks like. We also are the ones coming up with the choreography.”

The Poms squad’s first performance is planned to be at Roosevelt’s annual homecoming pep rally.