Artist of the Week: Madi Moormann

Freshman Madi Moormann often stands out playing the flute with the marching band during their halftime performances — she’s the only member in a drill team uniform.

Moormann is both a JV Lancer Dancer and a flutist on the marching band, the only East student juggling the two teams. On football game days, she goes from playing the flute in pregame, to dancing to the fight song with the dancers, to doing cadences in the stands, to band’s field show during halftime and back to dancing on the track in fourth quarter.

When did you start dancing and when did you start playing the flute?

“I’ve been dancing since I was 3, and then I started competition dancing when I was 10. I started playing the flute in fifth grade. I remember I was at a Theatre in the Park thing where you could test different instruments when I was 5, and I really liked the flute.”

Compared to other creative activities you have tried, what made you choose these two?

“I used to play the piano. I play guitar, but I’m taking a break from that right now. I do Stageright [Performing Arts] shows over the summer and sing with my church choir, but I just love dance and flute.”

How much time do you spend on each activity?

“I play the flute at school in band almost every day — sometimes starting before school at 7 a.m. and going to 9:15 a.m. I also practice sections I’m having trouble with at home and on the weekends whenever I have 20 minutes or so. With school and studio dance, I have around 13 hours of dance a week.”

What is the hardest part of balancing dance and band?

“Definitely football games because I’m supposed to be in two places at once. I do halftime, pregame and second quarter with band. I usually do first and fourth quarters for dance. It works out because JV dance doesn’t perform during the halftime show. I don’t know what I’m going to do if I make Varsity.”

How does your dance experience help you with band?

“I’ve been dancing for so long, it’s way easier to pick up the band music. Marching is basically just a less complicated version of dancing, so I picked up on it a lot quicker than other people.”

What is the best advice you would give to someone who is trying to balance two major activities like you do?

“Make a schedule and have a calendar. It’s hard, but it helps me remember all the things I have to do. I’m always super busy.”

What is your favorite song to play on the flute or dance to?

“My favorite song from our halftime show this year is ‘La Suerte de los Tontos’ [by Johnny Richards.] I also love to play the ‘Horse’ which is one of our pep band songs. I really like dancing to our game day hip-hop song this year.”

How do you plan to use band and dance in the future?

“I would really love to dance in college. And if I’m able to play flute in college too, that’d be great. After that, I don’t really know.”