Following in the foots
As one of the few families of multigenerational Gablettes about their love of dance and experiences in the school’s BY ADDYS PLATA AND ALEXANDRA ROA, STAFF WRITERS
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AKING ON THE PHRASE, ‘LIKE mother, like daughter,’ alumnus Diana Diaz Darcangelo and senior Demi “Gabby” Darcangelo bond over their shared experiences as members of the Gablettes Dance Team. Going beyond synchronized routines, precise kicks and balanced movements, the Gablettes create a long-lasting impact. Since
the establishment of the Gablettes Dance Team in 1975, team members have prided themselves on passing down their vibrant history and unique traditions. These traditions include ‘big’ and ‘little’ pairings –– when upperclassmen choose underclassmen to guide through both gifts and motivations during events. Teammates dedicate five to six hours of
practice everyday after school. Alongside hard work not only comes rewarding success, but lifelong friendships and tools to be applied throughout life. Hoping to share her journey as a Gablette, Diaz Darcangelo looked forward to passing her passion for the team to one of her children. That dream came true when her oldest daughter took an interest in the team that helped define her high school experience.
DIANA DIAZ DARCANGELO Thirty years seems like just the other experience you could ever have the day to mother Diana Diaz Darcangelo as she privilege of doing,” Diaz Darcangelo said. is reliving her high school moments through Diaz Darcangelo has never been a her daughter. As a former Gablette and stranger to hard work. The same discipline alumnus, Diaz Darcangelo was a member that drove her to be a national award-winning of the dance team from 1988 to 1991. dancer for the Gablettes was applied to Growing up in South Florida, Diaz working tirelessly upward to her successful Darcangelo dreamed of becoming a career as a news anchor for Channel 7. Gablette. With an esteemed reputation “Gablettes gave me the confidence, in the dance world, hearing the high skills and a lot of other qualities to go after regards towards the team, Diaz Darcangelo something,” Diaz Darcangelo said. That, I excitedly joined the Gablettes during give full props to Gablettes for because if her sophomore year of high school. it were not for the things Gablettes taught Being a Gablette meant forming a part of and instilled in me, I do not think I would a very close-knit team to Diaz Darcangelo. As even be on television today. All the things a teammate, she not only focused on bettering I learned at Gablettes helped me to reach her dancing skills but also herself. Discipline, the point that I am at now in my career.” determination and drive are all priceless As a role model to her daughter, Diaz lessons that Diaz Darcangelo is a firm believer in Darcangelo has carried hard work and maintains a rigorous with her throughout work schedule. Recognizing her entire life. how Gablettes continues to As a Gablette, Diaz instill these core values in her Darcangelo learned daughter, Diaz Darcangelo how to deal with reinforces the importance of criticism and overcome maintaining that discipline to disappointments as they be applied throughout the have come and gone rest of Darcangelo’s life. throughout her life. As a motherCourtesy of Diana Diaz Darcangelo In college, daughter duo, sharing STRIKE A POSE: Alumus Diaz Darcangelo such a similar Diana Diaz Darcangelo continued dancing experience poses for group photo for the University of has only with her teammates. Florida Dazzlers. With caused Diaz hundreds of women Darcangelo a n d trying out and only fourteen making the team, Diaz Darcangelo Darcangelo to become credits the Gablettes for her making the cut. closer. Bonding over “Gablettes is the most amazing team their parallel high school
lives, the consistency of the Gablettes has brought instant connections for one another to relate to. When Darcangelo will be showing Diaz Darcangelo a dance or routine, Diaz Darcangelo will recall moments when she was a Gablette and they used similar moves. Not only have some moves of the Gablettes stayed the same, but also have the values and traditions. As the Gablettes have shaped Diaz Darcangelo to the person she is today, she extends her legacy through her daughter. Not only have some the Gablettes’s moves stayed the same, but also the values and traditions.
20 sports Courtesy of Demi Darcangelo
