No fans in the stands, marching band, or cheerleaders and dance team on the sidelines. Just playback sounds of fans cheering blare through the speakers of Memorial Stadium on a Saturday fall afternoon.
After postponing college football for the 2020 season back at the beginning of August, the BIG 10 worked hard to find a way to get those players back on the field and playing. In mid-September, BIG 10 commissioner Kevin Warren announced football is back, meaning Redstepper coach Brookelyn Woods has to prepare her team to be game day ready.
The Redsteppers are a part of the IU Marching Hundred and are most known for their traditional kick-line during their half time performance. Elements of jazz, ballet, and pom are included in their dances.
Unfortunately, there will be no performances on the sidelines this season while the players are on the field due to health concerns. Besides Woods still holding team practices to work on technique, IU did give the Redsteppers the opportunity to pre-record their performances to be shown on the big screen during the actual game.
“I am very thankful to IU for allowing us to meet, I know there are other BIG 10 schools that were not allowed that,” said Woods. “We have just kept pushing through and learning routines and honestly that just makes the girls happy as well like they wanna be dancing.”
During a TV commercial Redsteppers perform a “media time out”
Even during practice, the team had to make a few adjustments to maintain social distancing guidelines and ensure safety for all the dancers. All dancers must wear a mask for the duration of practice, even when outside. The team is not allowed to practice in their normal studio inside Hundred Marching Hall. You can now see them practicing outside the parking lot between Assembly Hall and Memorial Stadium, occasionally the soccer field.
On game weeks, Redsteppers primarily practice outside alongside the Marching Hundred band. Thursdays, RedSteppers step inside Memorial Stadium with their glittery white uniforms and infamous red boots to record their performances.
Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, academics, and practices can become stressful for a student-athlete. Woods understands that and prioritized mental health with her team throughout the season. At the beginning of several practices, she gathers the team in to discuss if anyone is struggling with anything lately.
“I think it’s important to talk about mental health and not be embarrassed on what’s going on in their lives,” said Woods. “Being comfortable coming to me and saying ‘I’m having a really bad day, these are the things that have happened or just making me aware of the things going on in their lives since this was a hard year.”
The team continues to make the best out of the situation and finds a positive outlet as this season was a way for the Redsteppers to grow closer as a team.
Sophomore Redstepper, Payton Morse said this season has shown the team’s perseverance.
“We still have each other, we can still dance,” said Morse. “I am just still super lucky to be a part of this organization, I absolutely love IU and I think all the Redsteppers can attest to we dance for the Hoosier community and we don’t dance for ourselves but this year we really had to shift that mentality because we only have each other right now.”
For more information on how you can join the Redstepper team for the upcoming 2021 season, you can check out their website and Instagram.
