Eight years ago, a simple video changed the direction of senior junior Kaylah Boatcallie’s life. What began as watching dancers move across a screen quickly turned into stepping onto the floor herself—one tryout, one team, and one summer at a time—eventually shaping her into the dancer, teammate, and leader she is today.

That interest quickly turned into action as Kaylah joined the Little Wranglers dance program, where she steadily advanced through each level as her skills developed.

“My first year, I was on our Little White Team, which is about six to eight years old,” Kaylah said. “The next year, I moved up to our Little Maroon Team, which is more advanced, and it can still be your first year.”

After two years on the Maroon Team, Kaylah continued to move forward.

“I was there for two years, and then I moved up to our Elite Prep team,” Kaylah said. “You’re not truly at a competitive level for high schoolers, but you’re more advanced than the middle schoolers. I’ve been on our elite team ever since.”

While her growth came through structured teams and competition, Kaylah said her love for dance began long before she tried out.

“Seeing my parents and my grandparents dance together from a young age was really inspiring,” Kaylah said. “And then all of our friends would have parties where we’d go dance, and I grew up seeing it.”

As she continued dancing, Kaylah said the experience became more than just technique or performance. It became a way to connect with others and bring joy to the community.

“My favorite part of the program is community and sharing what we do with everyone,” Kaylah said. “Making an impact and giving people joy makes it all worthwhile. I love bringing a smile to people’s faces when they watch us.”

Not every part of her journey was easy. During her eighth-grade year, Kaylah ran into a roadblock: her dance partner graduated, leaving her without a consistent partner.

“My eighth-grade year, two years ago, going into my freshman year, my partner graduated, so I didn’t truly have a partner,” Kaylah said.

During that uncertain time, teammates like 2024-2025 Wrangler partner Jackson Nobra remained supportive and encouraging.

“Kaylah was that teammate that always made sure you were okay if you were standing off by yourself,” Jackson said. “She tried her best to be there for the people on the team and was always quick to check on you.”

Jackson said Kaylah’s dedication stands out, but so does her ability to keep the atmosphere light.

“The strength that Kaylah brought was her dedication to what she was doing, and her ability to make it fun and not too serious,” Jackson said. “She pushed us to be better, but she never let it get too serious or difficult.”

Kaylah said that mutual encouragement is especially important during competitions.

“We’re already going to be nervous because we’re competing against a thousand other dancers in a day,” Kaylah said. “So we talked, kept our minds off of it, and hyped each other up.”

Jackson said Kaylah stays calm, even when tension is high.

“I would say she handled stress pretty well before performances and competitions,” Jackson said. “Sometimes, before big performances, she would get visibly nervous, and so I would remind her that it’s going to be alright, and that what we were doing was just a simple dance routine, and it was really only three minutes of our life. And then as soon as we started the routine, all her nerves vanished, and she would be back to being the amazing dancer she is.”

Cheer coach Mariah Smith said Kaylah’s experience in both cheer and dance strengthened her overall performance.

“Whether it’s cheer or Little Wranglers, she understands how important timing and precision are,” Smith said. “She also shows strong leadership by helping keep the group moving together as a family rather than just an organization.”

Smith said Kaylah’s ability to quickly learn routines sets her apart.

“Little Wranglers and cheer go really well together because both require flexibility and rhythm,” Smith said. “You have to memorize counts and motions for every performance, and Kaylah does a great job picking that up quickly.”

Kaylah’s dedication has taken her to several high-profile performances.

“I’ve performed at the Rockets game, the San Antonio rodeo, and Disney,” Kaylah said. “Those are three big places I’ve danced at.”

Despite those accomplishments, she said some moments remind her not to take everything too seriously.

“One time, on our way to perform in San Antonio, I forgot all my dance stuff on the couch,” Kaylah said. “We had to turn around, go two hours back, get it, and then go all the way there.”

Through the challenges, performances, and memories, Kaylah said the relationships she has built matter most.

“Dancing with Kaylah has given me the ability to be lighthearted and fun while I’m dancing and locked in,” Jackson said. “She also helped me realize it’s really not that serious, so it’s much better to have fun while we’re dancing.”