Update, April 10th, 2026:

Hello fellow dance supporters!

It has been a while since I updated you all.  Since my last update, I have been able to meet with the Oregon City High School Athletic Director on March 3rd.  I was able to share our concerns and desire for a longer dance team season.  I was told that they would take my concerns into consideration and they would be surveying the current team about their experience once the season ended.   

I sent the athletic director a follow-up email March 11th with data of Oregon dance teams' participation in competitions throughout the year.  This data showed a clear correlation between the number of times a team performs/competes and their scores at state.  Generally, the more each team performed, the higher their overall scores at State were. 

I also asked that they survey the entire student body, including incoming freshman about their interest.  I feel this would give more accurate data about the needs of students, given that the current dance team has 12 participants (this was the number of participants at State).  I requested a response with an estimated timeframe to hear back about those survey results.  

The Oregon City Dance Team competed at state on March 20th in the Hip Hop division, which marks the end of the dance team season.  As of today April 10th, I have not heard back from the athletic director regarding the timeframe/subject pool for the surveys.

Therefore, I am moving forward without that information, and I have submitted a proposal to the Oregon City School Board and superintendent for a 100% booster-funded, full-season dance team, independent of the current cheer and dance team.  This proposal allows for any current dance team member to automatically join the new team, if they desire.  

Ideally, a timely decision could be made so that we can officially register as a booster program and begin fundraising for the start-up costs associated with forming a team.  My hope is to form a team at the beginning of the school year (2026-2027), and for that team to be able to participate in the OSAA recognized season (August-March).

Thank you all for your support!  I will update once I hear back from the school board.

-Leslie 

Update, Feb 15, 2026:

Hi all! I just want to thank each of you for your support!  The positive feedback has been overwhelming and I’m so excited to see such a large interest in growing the dance program at OCHS and in Oregon City.

As of now, we have 230 signatures!  

I reached out to the athletic director at OCHS on Thursday 2/12 via email asking for a meeting to discuss our petition.  I am waiting to hear back.

While we wait, I wanted to share the backstory behind this project:

Here's the TLDR: the JETS dance team still exists, just a very abbreviated version under the “umbrella” of cheer. They only compete Feb-March. Most people don't realize that OCHS even has a dance team.  

The full story:  The cheer and dance teams combined during the 2017-2018 school year.  The vision at that time was to grow the spirit program at OCHS under one “umbrella”.  The cheer and dance teams would work together during the fall, performing at half-time shows, etc.  Then in the winter, they would split into the competitive cheer and the competitive dance teams.  At that time there were still dance team coaches separate from the cheer coaches, but the practices were held at the same time.

Over time, the conflicting priorities of the two teams led most of the original dance coaches to step back. Since then, the JETS has been coached by the cheer coach, and the choreography is done by an OCHS graduate.  The JETS begin their competitive season once the competitive cheer team competes at state (which was this weekend 2/13-2/14). To the best of my knowledge, the current JETS structure is they will compete at 2 competitions in the next month with a hip-hop routine and then go to state.

My vision is for the cheer and dance teams to once again be split, so that the appropriate resources (money, coaches, practice time) go to each team.  The OSAA recognizes that dance team and cheer are two distinct sports, and OCHS should as well! OSAA states that the dance team season is August-March (this year it was Aug 18-March 21st).  There are 16 OSAA sanctioned competitions that the team could compete in (although a few are on the same weekend, so for the sake of argument, there are only 11 competitions that could be attended).  That’s up to 9 competitions that are missed opportunities for our dancers!  

I'd love to see the dance program in OC grow like the cheer program has: a youth program that feeds into the HS program.  The JETS once had enough dancers to make up a varsity and a JV team.  There is a middle school dance team (named the Oregon City Dance Team) made up of Gardiner and Tumwata students.  This year there are 67 members on the middle school team.  Last year there was a 5th grade team of 28 members that was made up of all the OC elementary schools.  This year, they were unable to continue the 5th grade team due to changes within the community education department.

I’ve heard the argument against splitting the teams is that there is simply not enough interest in the dance program.  The numbers speak for themselves.  The dancers are here, but the program as it stands has been overshadowed by cheer and thus many people throughout the community are unaware the dance team still exists.  

Let’s let each program SHINE!  Share this info and get the word out!

Thank you again for your support.  We are stronger together!

-Leslie Stevens, native OC resident, former JET (1997-2001) and current mom to twin girls on the Oregon City Dance Team

The original petition:

The Oregon City High School Jets Dance Team holds a special place in my heart. However, its current structure under the cheer program severely limits access for aspiring dancers and restricts their chances to shine on stage and in competitions. As someone who values the arts and understands the impact of inclusive and comprehensive dance programs, I believe it's time for a change. At present, our dance team is overshadowed by the cheer program, leaving dancers with fewer resources, less individual attention, and limited opportunities to truly showcase their talents. Dance is not just an offshoot of cheerleading; it is an art form that deserves its own platform. In its current arrangement, our dancers are often sidelined, and their incredible potential remains underutilized. Statistics from various school districts reveal that separating dance teams from cheer programs has led to remarkable improvements in performance and participation. By granting dance teams their own resources and frameworks, schools have seen increased engagement, skill development, and success in competitions. The positive impact on students' confidence and teamwork has also been well-documented, pointing to the countless benefits of an independent and focused dance team. Furthermore, with the rich artistic culture in Oregon City, there's a thriving community ready to support and nurture the Jets Dance Team as a standalone entity. Parents, teachers, and performers alike have expressed interest in expanding and enhancing our dance opportunities, echoing the need for a dedicated team separate from cheer. By expanding the Oregon City High School Jets Dance Team into its own distinct program, we can provide these talented dancers the stage they deserve, equipping them with the necessary tools to flourish artistically and academically. Increased participation, dedicated coaching, and specialized resources can make this vision a reality, transforming our dancers' experiences and career paths. Please join me in urging the Oregon City High School administration to recognize the unique value of our dance team by separating it from the cheer program. This change will not only elevate our school's arts program but also empower future generations of dancers to excel and inspire others. Sign this petition to support our dancers' journey towards greater opportunities and achievements. Together, we can make this dream a reality.