By Elle Schuermann, Jordan Brown and Justin Hecimovich
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (April 3rd, 2025)
The music blasts through the speakers and the IU RedSteppers hit every beat with perfect energy and rhythm. Their crimson and cream outfits unite as one as they move in sync, perfecting their routine and electrifying the sold-out Memorial Stadium on a Saturday afternoon. Every turn, jump, and step isn’t just about the physical move itself, but rather the passion behind them.
For two of these dancers, it’s more than just practice. It’s their life.
Roommates and best friends Jenna Handlan and Jenna Fricke have spent a lot of time together dancing side by side, and in their everyday lives. Handlan said, “We literally do everything together nonstop–practice, dinner, lunch–everything we do is together.” Between school, performances, and just trying to survive college, they rely on each other to push through the chaos.
Their room is basically an extension of the studio. Posters of past performances hang on the walls, and their common space often turns into a practice space when needing extra time to perfect a routine. They keep each other motivated, whether it’s for perfecting choreography or getting through another long day of practice, class, and studying.
They also feed off each other’s energy. When one is struggling, the other steps up to bring the hype. Handlan gives examples of the duo lifting the other one up, “All the time, I feel like if on the way to practice if someone doesn’t want to go or someone’s not feeling it that day, we push each other and we’re like you got it, it’s a hard day you’re gonna make it through.” If one feels exhausted after a long day, the other pushes them to keep going. Whether it’s blasting music together before rehearsal and have fun at home or simply giving each other that extra boost of encouragement before a big performance, they always find a way to lift each other up.
It’s not just about accountability, it’s about knowing that someone always has your back. If school and dance stress starts to feel overwhelming, they remind each other why they’re here in the first place. It’s a partnership built on trust, hard work, and the unspoken understanding that they’re stronger together.
Some days are exhausting. They wake up early for class, endure hours of labs and lectures, then rush to practice, where they push their bodies to the limit. The late nights and early mornings add up, and sometimes they’ll wonder how they’ll keep going, but that’s when they can rely on each other. But as tiring as it is, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of stepping onto the field, hearing the sold-out BIG10 crowd roar for you, and knowing all their hard work has paid off.
Being a RedStepper is no joke. Game days mean performing in front of thousands of fans, keeping the energy high, and representing IU with every move. When game day was discussed, Fricke said, “For game days when we have to get up at 3:00 or 4:00 A.M. and I think we just hype each other up too.” Their ability to thrive from the other’s energy in such a rigorous schedule is vital for balance. However, the packed crowd’s excitement, the booming music, the feeling of representing IU, the synchronized steps, it all comes together in a way that makes the exhaustion worth it.
Behind the big performances are the small moments that keep them going. The inside jokes, the water breaks, the support when someone’s struggling with simply a move or balancing everything, the pre-game talks before stepping onto the field. That’s what makes it special.
For Handlan and Fricke, it’s about more than just the dancing. It’s about the people who surround the RedStepper team and make it a family.
Through the long practices, the late-night study sessions, and the pressure to always perform at their best, they’ve learned discipline, teamwork, time management and how to push through challenges when they’re exhausted. These are lessons they’ll carry beyond IU and the RedSteppers. Whether they’re in a hospital room caring for patients or in a classroom teaching students, the dedication and resilience they’ve built as dancers will stick with them.
And when they finally take the field on game day, they’re not just dancing. They’re living the dream, one step at a time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJklCagvDFU
The inspiring story of how Jenna Handlan and Jenna Fricke, best friends and dance partners, constantly push each other to be their best selves. Through challenges, long rehearsals, and the pressures of college life, they uplift one another both on and off the dance floor.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 9, 2014
Media Contacts:
Laila Baluk- lbaluk@iu.edu
Jordan Brown- jnb10@iu.edu
Kevin Hill- khil@iu.edu
CUPERTINO, California (Sep 9, 2014)- Apple Inc. announced its first-ever smartwatch, the Apple Watch, at a September 9, 2014, event at the Flint Center at De Anza College in Cupertino, California. The Apple Watch is designed to revolutionize how people track their health, stay connected, and interact with the digital world beyond their phones. This watch, available in multiple styles featuring a sleek design, health-tracking capabilities, and integration with the iPhone, the Apple Watch is Apple’s first step into wearable technology. The Apple Watch is Apple’s most personal device yet created. The technology is a new way to connect to the world, a tool to maintain an active lifestyle and access information from your handheld device. Every detail provides a truly personal experience for all users.
“You know what has driven Apple from the beginning; this compulsion to take incredibly powerful technology and make it accessible, relevant, and ultimately personal,” said Jony Ive, Apple’s senior vice president of Design. “We’ve designed a range of products so personal, you won’t put them on your desk or in your pocket, you wear them on your wrist. We conceived, designed, and developed Apple watch as a completely singular product.”
The device features a customizable watch face with interchangeable bands, allowing users to navigate effortlessly with a small screen on the wrist. These customization options ensure that the Apple Watch is not only simple technology but also a fashion statement that fits into users’ daily lives. The watch is available in three collections: Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport, and Apple Watch, each crafted uniquely with aluminum, stainless steel, and 18-karat yellow or rose gold casing. These editions have a retina display, heart rate sensor, accelerometer, and gyroscope equipped with a speaker, Bluetooth, and up to 18 hours of battery life. The customizable watch face with the option of interchangeable bands makes it a day-to-day technology and a stylish accessory for the wrist. The Apple MagSafe technology makes the Apple Watch available in 38 mm and 42mm sizes, with quality performing bands for different users.
“When you are notified of things on Apple Watch, we’re using the tactic engine to give you feedback on your wrist,” said Kevin Lynch, Apple’s Vice President. “It’s just like somebody tapping you on the wrist very gently, and even if you are sitting right next to someone, they won’t be able to tell you’re getting notified; it’s very subtle. But you’ll feel it on your own wrist. You can choose what information, of course, will come and notify you on your watch.”
The Apple Watch appeals to a broad range of consumers. From athletes to business professionals, this device offers versatility in both aesthetics and functionality. Each collection is carefully crafted to reflect Apple’s commitment to high-end materials and craftsmanship. Whether worn by a doctor, business professional, or athlete, the device offers a combination of features that meet the needs of all.
As the ultimate device for a healthy life, the Apple Watch can do what other devices aren’t able to because of the automatic health insights that connect to the most advanced features to improve health. The watch tracks when you sleep and helps you create a healthier bedtime schedule and routine. The watch marks your REM sleep, Core sleep, and Deep sleep with vitals like heart rate, sleep duration, and respiratory rate. It marks when a users heart has irregular or unusually high rates, which could be signs of severe conditions. The quick alerts notify the user of all irregularities. The Apple Watch offers features to stay in touch just through your wrist to simply text, call, and listen to music. The Digital Touch features allow you to draft a text using your fingers and send it with a swift touch. Apps include calendars, music, maps, and weather, similar to the apps available on the iPhone. Siri communication allows users to dictate messages without typing them out. The ease of zooming and scrolling and navigating features provide a quick way to find numerous apps, seamlessly connected with the iPhone. Compatible with the iPhone 5 and later models, the Apple Watch connects with user information to answer calls, send texts, and control music directly from the wrist.
The Apple Watch will be available for purchase starting at $349 and available to run with the latest IOS. This new device represents a new start to wearable technology that is practical for all everyday users of the iPhone. It perfectly blends into the existing Apple products to redefine how users interact with new technologies Apple creates.
Apple Ceo Tim Cook shows off the Apple Watch’s revolutionary new features. The “Digital Crown” allows the user to navigate the Apple Watch without obstructing the screen while the Fitness and Workout out aid users in their pursuit of being physically fit.
