Sisters connected by a love for dance and involvement in drill team, this year entails many bittersweet experiences for freshman Kelsey Madden and senior Emily Madden. Where there are Kelsey’s firsts, there are also Emily’s lasts with the final of these coming Friday with Red Rhythm’s annual Spring Show.

For Emily, it’s been a year of teaching her sister what Red Rhythm is all about.

“I’m able to help show her the ways of drill team,” Emily Madden said. “I get to teach her different things about drill team that she may not have known if I wasn’t with her. It’s also fun to experience her first time doing everything and seeing her excitement and remembering being that way my first year.”

For Kelsey, Emily is a shoulder to lean on.

“She can help me out with my first year,” Kelsey said. “She reminds me what to wear and bring along with other helpful tips.”

Each sister took a different path related to dance and extracurriculars.

“They both love dance because they love to perform and they just feel happy when they are dancing together,” mom Kim Madden said. “They both took some recreational dance classes when they were young, about five or six years old. Kelsey started dancing more often and was on a dance team for three years in middle school instead of school athletics. Emily did cheer and school athletics so she started dancing a little later in ninth grade.”

Kelsey and Emily have a bond that is noticed by many.

“[They] are very supportive and have a deep love for each other,” drill team director Nicole Nothe said. “I love to see the sister bond in a drill team environment. There are many hugs and smiles between the two, I know that they are enjoying the year they have together.”

The sisters hope that their positive relationship lifts the atmosphere on Red Rhythm .

“I feel that they are the definition of sister goals and that they are always supportive of each other and the rest of the team,” sophomore line member Annie Tian said. “The positivity of their bond really helps brighten the team environment every practice.”

In a social officer position, such as the one Emily holds, positivity is important.

“Emily and Kelsey both share so much positivity and energy, not to mention some awesome humor that I love,” Secretary Social Officer Hallie Winterbauer said. “In terms of being a Social, Emily’s personality is so encouraging and it helps me strive to be more extroverted, more of a leadership figure for the team and to be myself in practices! It also comes in handy when we speak to the team for Wisdom Wednesday, because she just radiates positivity and energy to the team during tough times.”

But after Spring Show, the season is over, leaving Emily to reflect on her time spent with Kelsey.

“After the last performance I’ll definitely be crying,” Emily said. “I’m sad that I have to leave after only being on Red Rhythm for one year with Kelsey. I loved being President Social Officer and making drill team fun for everyone. I loved getting to spend even more time with Kelsey everyday through Red Rhythm before I end up leaving for college.”