Signing up for sports, dance, or cheer requires more than just hard work, practice, and dedication. It requires money—a whole lot of it too. El Estoque explores the financial costs that students have to pay in order to participate.
Senior Katherine Ong has been dancing for 11 years and is currently the captain of Marquesas, the MVHS dance team. According to Ong, each member on the dance team has to pay a hefty sum of $2000 to $3000 per year in order to participate in all the events. The team participates in five competitions in which they need to pay for private choreographers, costumes, competition entry fees, and travel expenses. A large percentage of the cost goes to paying for private choreographers along with the cost of going to National’s in Anaheim every year. Because of the lack of funding from boosters, the dance team holds fund raisers such as car washes to help alleviate the cost.
"A lot of the girls on the dance team take outside classes," Ong said. "Which is not included in the $2000 to $3000 range."
Ong also takes private classes which cost about $18 per hour. Other expenses of the dance team include the two summer camps which cost around $300 to $400.
"Dance is just expensive," Ong said. "But it’s what I have been doing all my life."
Tumbling Through Cash
While the cheerleaders emanate smiles and energy, the cost of participating is no laughing matter. Senior Daniel Chang, the captain of the cheer team and co-captain of the song team, reveals the underlying drastic expenses of cheerleading. The cost of participating in cheer is $2765 to $3065 each year,which is divided into eight payments throughout the year. Like the dance team, a large sum of the money goes to competitions and private choreographing fees.
"Although we have a coach for rally choreography and routines, we need professional choreographers to teach us routines for competitions," Chang said. "The coach acts more as an advisor and helps out with handling the money, hotels, and transportation."
Also a member of song team, Chang has to pay an extra $30 to $40 to participate. In order to compensate for the expenses, the cheer team holds fundraisers, selling chocolates, gift wraps, and holding car washes.
"We are all aware of the cost," Chang said. "But the feeling of competing and performing makes it a priceless experience."