The Blue Fusion dance team has a place to call home.
A new studio has been added to Greenfield-Central High School, thanks to shifting spaces with the new Performing Arts Center.
The dance studio is located behind the old auditorium, in a space once dedicated for set design. Conveniently adjacent to the GCHS gymnasium, the studio actually looks like a miniature gym.
Gone are the days of searching for a practice space and lugging heavy equipment and speakers wherever they can find a place to practice. For the 18 Blue Fusion dancers, three coaches and one student manager, the new space makes a world of difference in validation.
“We’ve had many accomplishments and this is a big step in recognizing us as a dance team,” said GC senior Izzy Rosa. “This is definitely a peak of my senior year.”
Rosa says everything about the 2,000 square foot studio is something to be thankful for: it’s created with the same, high-technology gymnasium floor that was installed in the main gymnasium in 2025. The studio also includes a coach’s office, ballet barres, mirrors, a water fountain, lighting and – soon– speakers to amplify the sound for music.
Finishing touches are being made this spring, but the dance team has been using it for months as their season is coming to a close with an upcoming regional competition.
Izzy Rosa appreciates that the space is private, and it also allows for more team bonding. The team practices three days a week, and can come right after school to connect before stretching.
Head Coach Kaylee Bennett says the studio is the first of its kind in a Hancock County school and is unique for a school of Greenfield-Central’s size. She’s beyond grateful for the opportunity to practice there.
Bennett, a graduate of GCHS herself, was a team captain all four years of high school. After college, she became a Family and Consumer Science teacher at GCHS. She always knew she wanted to return home to teach and coach.
Bennett came on as assistant coach five years ago, and was made head coach two years ago.
But finding a place for Blue Fusion to practice hasn’t been easy. The team would have to practice at Maxwell and Greenfield intermediate schools, Weston Elementary School, or even the Hancock County Memorial Building due to lack of gym space available in the district during the competition season of December through March.
“The team would get kicked out of space for overbooking or school needs and have to reschedule practice, or push desks around in a classroom to be able to still have practice,” Bennett said. “This new space is an incredible, guaranteed practice space the team has never had the pleasure of calling home. We no longer have to carry speakers and weights everywhere we go because everything has a place to call home.”
Junior Lizzie Hansen says the dance team teaches the girls how to manage their time– practicing three days a week while keeping school a priority. Many also take private dance lessons as well.
Blue Fusion also provides leadership and teamwork, and working through strong personalities– “We all get along and work well together.”
Hansen is grateful that school administrators put the effort and resources into the group.
“We train all year and we’re athletes, and we’re getting there with the recognition,” she said.
The creation of a dance studio for Blue Fusion has been on the wish list from high school administrators for years, says Nathaniel Day, GC business manager. When the new Performing Arts Center was completed, the former space at the old auditorium that was used for set design was available.
When a new floor was added to the GCHS gymnasium in 2025, creating the dance studio with the same material simply made sense.
“The gym floor project gave us an opportunity to leverage a larger project with similar needs to to get a quality floor installed in the space,” Day said. “Since both floors are the same, we were able to combine them and lower the cost compared to just installing the studio floor.”
Blue Fusion teaches much more than dance. The extracurricular activity instills teamwork, responsibility, sacrifice and the ability to overcome challenges, administrators say.
“Dedication to a goal that is larger than oneself are skills that are transferable to all paths of life,” Day added.
Superintendent Dr. Harold Olin agrees. The dance team at GCHS has a rich history: 30 years ago, it was an extension of the marching band program. The state dance association was created in the mid-1990s and Greenfield-Central participated from the early days. The Cougars have been competitive for years, and even have a few state championships.
“Our teams work throughout the year to hone their skills and perfect various routines,” Olin said. “Having a space in the high school that they can call their own certainly validates the hard work that the team displays. I am very proud of Coach Bennett and the members of the team. They are amazing ambassadors for Greenfield-Central.”
GCHS Principal Dan Walbaum says the school was fortunate to be able to install a new dance floor in the old stagecraft area. Having a dedicated practice space not only helps the dance team have a consistent practice schedule, but also frees up the many gyms where they practiced before.
“Our Blue Fusion dancers and coaches compete at a really high level,” he said. “Like other sports teams, they are disciplined and dedicated. They go through the same ups and downs throughout the season. While we often see the Blue Fusion performing at football or basketball games, I would also encourage GC fans to get to a dance competition sometime to support them.”
By Maribeth Vaughn
Blue Fusion competed this past weekend at IHSDTA South Regionals and are now Jazz champions with their highest score yet! They are moving on to compete at state.