Spiritleaders

2019-2020 Events

Contact Director and Head Coach Hollie Johnson regarding any of our upcoming events at hjohnson@nvusd.org

Youth Cheer & Dance Clinic; Friday, August 30th 2019 in the NHS Dance Studio and gym for ages 4-13 for boys and girls! Learn an age appropriate dance routine and cheers and perform at the JV half-time of a football game with the 38 time National Champion Spiritleaders! Dinner, goodie bag and award ribbon for all participants included in the $40.00 registration fee! NO PRE-REGISTRATION, all walk-in’s. Grizzly “Cubs in Training” T-Shirts available for $15.00.

“Day of Dance & Cheer!”; Sunday, Dec. 8th, 2019 in the NHS gym. FREE to ALL dancers and their teachers in the Napa Valley. An event created to have dancers in the community come together in a non-competitive and supportive environment and share their passion for dance. Bring your favorite routines to showcase!

Winter Dance Intensive; Open to ALL dancers ages 12 and above. Come train with us with our incredible renown Dance Intensive Master Teacher Rylee Pippert on Dec. 23rd, Dec. 28th, Jan. 6th. Contemporary 4pm-5pm and Hip Hop 5pm-6pm. $10 drop in fee, parent waiver required.

Try Out Prep Classes; For those who want to get familiar with the try-out process we will offer 4 non-mandatory try-out prep classes on Saturday March 7th, 21st, 28th and April 4th from 10:45am-12:45pm in the NHS dance studio for $15.00 per class.

NHS Dance Department’s Spring Production; May 1st, 2nd, at 7:00pm and May 3rd, 2020 at 2:00pm in the NVUSD Theater. $15 for Adults, $10 for students, 5 and under free. NO PRE-SALE tickets. Tickets go on sale a half hour before each show.

2020-21 Spiritleader Try-outs; Saturday May 16th and Sunday May 17th, 2020 held in the NHS small gymnasium. (see more try-out info. below.)

“Student Works” May 29th, 2020 from 3:15-4:30pm in the NVUSD Theater. A free show to the public where the 200 plus members in the Dance Department showcase their student choreographed dances as well as the 2020-2021 Dance Club Officers are announced!

Mission Statement

Teaching today’s student-dancers to become tomorrow’s healthy role models and effective leaders through proper training, hard work and service to others.

Vision Statement

To provide a positive and challenging experience. We want every dancer who leaves our program to have a passion for dance, increased confidence and leadership skills. Spiritleaders will become problem solvers, develop time management skills and have a solid work ethic. Spiritleaders will have the ability to work well with others and develop a healthy lifestyle of dance, fitness and proper nutrition that will last a lifetime.

Stay Connected

For the most up to date information on our upcoming events follow us on our instagram accounts: @nhsspiritleaders @nhsdancedept

Tryout Information

The 2020 Napa Spiritleader Try-Outs will take place over one weekend this year, May 16th & May 17th, 2020.
It will be an audition and call back process and will take place in the NHS small gym.
Candidates attire will be black spandex, black fitted sports top, tank or leotard, tan jazz shoes or paws, hair in a slicked back low bun with competition makeup on.
Candidates must bring their teacher recommendation forms and parent waiver permission slip; (pick up these forms in NHS dance studio in mid March) and last report card (progress reports count).
The first round will be from 9am-12:30pm on Saturday May 16th, where the judges will be looking at technical strength and flexibility through across the floor combinations. These will include turns, leaps, jumps and leg hold combinations as well as seeing each candidate’s splits. There will also be a short jazz combination taught.
Candidates will be given a number and only those whose scores qualify them to the next round will come back on Sunday May 17th from 9am-12pm for round two.
During this round the candidates will be taught a lyrical short combination.
The third and final call back will take place Sunday afternoon from 2pm-5pm to candidates that qualify and they will learn a short pom combination.
Those remaining candidates will bring their contact permission slips and other paperwork.
Results will be posted throughout the weekend on our Instagram @nhsspiritleaders and we will be announcing the callbacks using your given number. After the entire audition process has concluded, the announcement of our Blue Team and our Gold Team (elite competitive group) will be listed by names.
There is no fee to try out.
For those who want to get familiar with the try out process we will offer 4 non-mandatory try-out prep classes on Saturday March 7th, 21st, 28th and April 4th from 10:45am-12:45pm in the NHS dance studio for $15.00 per class.
For any questions regarding tryouts please contact Director Hollie Johnson @ hjohnson@nvusd.org

Program Accolades

★ Current overall average team GPA is a 3.8

★ 38 National titles including International and Grand National Dance Champions

★ 2007-2016 ~ 10 consecutive National titles in the same division; small varsity pom (1st high school team in the history of the NDA Nationals to win 10)

★ International Division Champions 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013

★ Grand Champions in 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2010, 2004 (highest combined pom and jazz score)

★ Letters of recognition from the White House from US Senators Barbara Boxer and Lois Wolk

★ Multiple Proclamations from Napa City Council proclaiming April 5th is Napa Spiritleader Day in Napa.

★ Certificate of Recognition presented at a Rally from Senator Bill Dodd.

Spiritleader Team & Dance Department Director

Hollie Johnson; A professional dancer, choreographer and fitness competitor was also an NHS Pep Squad Alumni who went on to revamp the existing program creating the Napa High Spiritleaders and implemented the 1st ever Napa High School Dance Department in 1992 in which she teaches 200 dancers daily. She has her Bachelors of Science in Dance and Health Science from CSU, Sacramento. She was selected as the “Who’s Who of Top Dance Director’s in the United States” and was featured in the National publication of Dance Spirit Magazine. She also received the NDA 1st ever “Excellence in Leadership” coaches award. Hollie has led her team to 38 National titles in her tenure as a coach. Hollie is also a Fitness Instructor at HealthQuest and started teaching fitness classes when she was a junior at NHS and hasn’t stopped her teaching since!

Hollie has an exceptionally talented and experienced coaching and choreography staff that are known throughout the dance world as some of the best in the country.