The Big and Little Sister dance establishes a community on the Woodland Dance Team where the freshmen are welcomed with love and care, when it comes to dancing. Freshman are made ‘little sisters’ and the upperclassmen are the ‘big sisters.’
Coach Jen Cataldi brought this idea to the team 3 years ago to bring the team together and create life bonds.
“I came from a college that had big and little sisters, for when I started three years ago, I decided to incorporate the idea of big and little sisters into my coaching,” said Coach Cataldi.
At this moment in time, little sisters are overstretched with the idea of a new environment. The idea of having a fellow dancer to rely on also helps those who are big sisters take on the responsibility of being a mentor.
“To be a sister is a big responsibility for your little sister as well as yourself,” said sophomore Genevieve Bandanza.
Big and Little Sisters are more than a label; they create a family, a unity that becomes connected by the thing they all love, which is dance. The dance team has shown unbreakable bonds can be fabricated when trust is involved.
“I am just happy I can experience this because I know only a few other sports teams like this idea. I am glad dance does,” said freshmen Oliva Jevarjian.
