LADUE, Mo. — The Ladue Rams are ready for Friday Night Lights, from the band to the cheerleaders and the fans. But a Ladue High football game would not be complete without a little sparkle.
The Laude Sparkle Effect is a dance team for students with and without disabilities.
Georgia Bland and Charlie Brunqwell are long-time friends and teammates.
"I remember when I was in middle school, I got to come to one of the football games, just like tonight, and I saw Sparkle perform, and I immediately fell in love. So, I applied and got accepted and got to be a part of the team. Charlie and I getting to be together was just an added bonus," Bland says.
Like any other sports team, the Sparkle Effect holds practices and team bonding activities throughout the week. It is a space where new friendships form, creating a support system on and off the field.
"The idea is that everyone feels welcomed and loved and that they can be themselves and celebrate all of the great strengths that they have together, so they bring out the best in each other," says one of the team sponsors and Special School District Instructional Coach, Tricia Casalmir.
It is what that high school experience is all about. Teammates Zoey Tenenbeum and Maya Purnell became friends after joining Sparkle.
"(We) Just have fun!" Purnell says.
"I love seeing all these people every Monday and at all these performances. We have so much fun. It just gives us, a new group of friends that we get to see in the hallway and at school," Tenenbeum says.
When the second quarter clock runs out, it is their time to sparkle.
The Sparkle Effect performs at halftime of each home game.
"We get to have so much fun while performing, and I love seeing the smiles on everyone's faces, but it's also those in-practice moments just kind of hanging out, doing crafts, having snacks, practicing, rehearsing," Bland says.
For this team, football season is not about the wins and losses, it is about building friendships that are built to sparkle and made to last.
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