The Talons Dance team grows with the help of new coach Sam Spieler 

 This year’s Talons Dance team performed a Football halftime routine for the first time in four years! The new head dance coach, Sam Spieler, is leading this team of girls with a multitude of goals in mind for the season. They will attend and perform at pep rallies, Football, Basketball, and Volleyball games, and they will compete for the first time in March! 

The Talons Dance team was founded in the spring of 2011, and lots of changes have happened since then! The team has grown greatly in the last couple of years, with last year being their first football game in three years. This past April, McMurry decided to expand its cheer and dance programs, which led to Sam Spieler getting hired. She has extensive dance and coaching experience and comes from being the head dance coach at Hardin-Simmons University for five years. When asked why she chose a dance career, she said, “I chose dance because I couldn’t imagine a life where I have to sit still! I’ve been obsessed with dance since I was young, and I truly can’t imagine my life without it. Coaching allows me to combine my passion for dance with my love for people, making a difference in the lives of my dancers both on and off the dance floor.”  

One of her biggest goals for the year is to continue developing the team’s dance technique and helping them grow as performers. She states, “We will be competing at the American Dance/Drill Team Collegiate Nationals in March, and I would love to see the team build their hip-hop skills and confidence so we can bring our very best to the competition. Most importantly, I want these dancers to grow in their abilities, believe in themselves, and be proud of what they accomplish together.”  

Dance is a very difficult sport that takes practice, teamwork, and communication. I asked Coach Sam what her favorite thing is about this year’s team, and she told me that it is how close the dancers are. She said, “They truly are like sisters, and I love knowing that the friendships and bonds they’re building will last a lifetime. I also love how positive they are and how they’ve already overcome challenges together. I’ve already shed a few proud dance mom tears this season! I couldn’t ask for a better group of dancers, and I’m so thankful I get to be part of their journey both in dance and in life.” 

If you are interested in learning more about the team and what they do, follow their Instagram: mcmurrytalons. If you have dance experience and want to get a taste of what being on the team is like, register for a clinic! They are hosting two more clinics this semester, one on October 25th, and the other on December 13th. The next Talons performances will be at the Volleyball game on October 6th at 6 pm, and the Football game on October 10 at 1 p.m.