Junior Aanya Kapoor gets home at 5:30 p.m. from her varsity Poms practice and immediately starts studying for the three tests she has the next day. She goes to bed exhausted, but the next day, when she sees her fellow Poms and gets to do what she loves at practice, Kapoor remembers why it’s all worth it.
Kapoor has been dancing for over half of her life, beginning when she was a mere six years old. She started off her journey as a Bollywood dancer, a type of Indian dance, paying homage to her roots. “My parents signed me up for a class to get [me] more involved with my culture,” Kapoor said.
After watching the team perform at a pep rally freshman year, Kapoor decided to try out for Poms in the summer before sophomore year. Now in her second year, Kapoor loves being a Pom. In particular, she appreciates the versatility of the sport and how everyone brings their own unique talents. “Everyone dances in a different way but a routine can still come together well,” Kapoor said.
Not only does she challenge herself with a double-season sport, as Poms spans both the fall and winter seasons, but Kapoor also takes on intense academic rigor. She is currently taking five AP courses, including AP BC Calculus and AP Java, and is an active member of different clubs, serving on the Patriot Ambassador Executive Board.
Managing these responsibilities with Poms, which practices every day after school for two hours for over five months, can become difficult. “The hardest part of poms would be the time commitment and having to balance other activities along with all of the practices and games which we have to attend,” Kapoor said.
Despite the challenge, her passion for the sport motivates her to continue working hard and balancing her different commitments. “Dancing has been such a vital part of my life since I was little. Even though it can be difficult, I don’t plan on stopping,” Kapoor said.
Ultimately, Kapoor’s favorite part about the sport is the people. “I’ve made so many different friends through my years of dancing,” Kapoor said. “Everyone is supportive of each other.”
Poms senior captain Samantha Lau considers Kapoor a valuable part of the team, admiring her work ethic. “Even with Poms and all of her AP classes, she still finds time to study for every class and keeps up with choreography,” Lau said.
Her coach, Mia Krawczel, agrees with Lau, showing her appreciation for Kapoor. “She has a positive attitude, she works hard and brings her best every day,” Krawczel said. “She is respectful of her teammates at practice when being taught choreography or cleaning, which can feel tedious and boring.”
Being on the Poms team has had a substantial impact on Kapoor’s future. While she doesn’t plan on being a professional dancer, she does hope to join a dance team in college. “Poms was such a wonderful experience in high school and I would love to have a similar one in college,” Kapoor said.
Poms senior captain Samantha Lau considers Kapoor a valuable part of the team, admiring her work ethic. “Even with Poms and all of her AP classes, she still finds time to study for every class and keeps up with choreography,” Lau said.
Her coach, Mia Krawczel, agrees with Lau, showing her appreciation for Kapoor. “She has a positive attitude, she works hard and brings her best every day,” Krawczel said. “She is respectful of her teammates at practice when being taught choreography or cleaning, which can feel tedious and boring.”
Being on the Poms team has had a substantial impact on Kapoor’s future. While she doesn’t plan on being a professional dancer, she does hope to join a dance team in college. “Poms was such a wonderful experience in high school and I would love to have a similar one in college,” Kapoor said.
