Ridge Dance Team Captains

Caroline Small
​Captain of Ridge Dance Team

Caroline Small has been a part of the Ridge Dance family since middle school when she participated in Ridge Dance Collective. Since Freshman year, she has been a proud member of the Ridge Dance Team. Caroline has enjoyed supporting the Ridge Dance Department by being a teacher's assistant for a Social Skills Dance class and a student director for dance for the musical Cinderella. This year, Caroline couldn't be more thrilled or more grateful to be a Co-Captain of Ridge Dance Team. She is incredibly thankful to be on Team with amazing, talented, and kind dancers who have become like a big family! Dancing at Ridge has helped build her confidence, strengthen her friendships, and enhanced her high school experience overall. This year, Caroline looks forward to being a part of so many special traditions like dancing at the NJHS Dance Fest, performing at the Pep Rally and Showcases, and competition season! She is grateful that Mrs. Miranda has created so many avenues for students to discover and pursue dance at Ridge! She encourages everyone to take advantage of opportunities to dance here whether in classes, Collective, or Team! Go Ridge Dance!

Katelyn Rutkowski
​Captain of Ridge Dance Team

Katelyn Rutkowski has been a dedicated member of Ridge Dance since her freshman year and is now a proud senior. Throughout her time in the program, she has been a part of Ridge Dance Team, Collective, and NHSDA. This year, Katelyn is honored to serve as the Ridge Dance Team Captain! She is incredibly excited to lead her team with passion, positivity, and hard work while continuing to strengthen the close-knit bond that makes Ridge Dance feel like a true family.

​

Ridge Dance Collective Captains

Claire Babcock 
​Captain of Ridge Dance Collective

Claire Babcock has been a member of Ridge Dance Collective since 8th grade, and is excited to be one of the co-captains this year as a senior! Claire has been a part of Ridge Dance Collective, Ridge Dance Team, Dance I, Dance II, Dance III, NHSDA, and has assisted with WAMS Dance Collective. She is excited to meet new dancers this year and also dance with her friends that she has met through the department. Claire is very grateful for all of the opportunities she has been given in the program, and couldn’t imagine her high school experience without being a part of the Ridge Dance Program. Ridge Dance offers many extracurriculars and classes and through these, Claire has learned the importance of happiness, communication, and most of all, the importance of dance in her life. Claire is thankful for the valuable life lessons she has learned from being a part of the department, and strives to be a role model for the underclassmen in the program. She is thrilled to start dancing and choreographing for the last time, and is excited to see what the year will bring!​​

Madison Yu
Captain of Ridge Dance Collective

Madison Yu has been deeply involved in Ridge Dance since Freshman year and, now a Senior, continues to push the boundaries of her artistry. Over the years, she has taken every dance class offered at Ridge and is actively involved in NHSDA, Ridge Dance Team, and Ridge Dance Collective - serving as Choreography Captain in her Junior year and now as a Co-Captain. She is excited to work with every dancer to create a connected family to bring out the best in everyone. She has performed in numerous showcases, each one a new opportunity to share her dedication with the Ridge Dance family. She is also an accomplished rhythmic gymnast, having represented the U.S. in Estonia and earned titles in national and international competitions. For her, Ridge Dance is more than a department - it’s a place of connection, growth, and support where she’s built friendships and learned valuable lessons. This season, Madison is thrilled to continue performing alongside her talented teammates, embracing the challenges and excitement that each showcase and competition will bring. Let’s go Ridge Dance!!

​

Leaders of National Honors Society for Dance Arts

Emma Nelson
​President of NHSDA

Emma Nelson has been a proud member of Ridge Dance since her freshman year, and now as a senior she continues to participate in the department as both a dancer and a leader. Emma has been a member of the Ridge Dance Team for four years, been a social skills mentor, and Vice President of the National Honors Society for Dance Arts. This year, Emma is excited for the opportunity to serve as President of NHSDA and she vows to uphold the values of the department. Emma is very passionate about dance and so grateful for the opportunity to help foster a welcoming and supportive environment in the dance community at Ridge. For her, Ridge Dance is more than just an extracurricular activity—it has introduced her to some of her best friends and created memories that will last a lifetime. She appreciates the opportunity Ridge Dance offers her to connect with fellow dancers, share her love of performing, and grow as a dancer and a leader. Through her involvement with the Ridge Dance Team, Emma had the chance to perform at pep rallies, basketball games, various showcases, and competitions which have shown her the power dance has to unite people. Emma looks forward to what the rest of the season has to offer and she can’t wait to dance alongside so many other talented people.  

Ainsley Scott
Vice-President of NHSDA

Ainsley is a senior here at Ridge who has been a member of the dance department since her freshman year. She participates in many of the activities available for example Ainsley is involved in NHSDA, collective, dance 2, and dance 3. She was inducted into NHSDA her sophomore year, now the secretary for her junior year, and is vice president for her senior year. Ainsley was the choreography captain for her group in collective, for her junior year fall semester.  She is very excited this year to help lead through the dances and committees. She is overjoyed in taking part in a leadership position this year and creating a fun and amazing committee of dancers. Ainsley has made so many new friendships and bonds with the ridge dance dancers throughout the years. This has been such an amazing opportunity for her in coming out of her shyness and exploring different ways of being involved at ridge in order to make a memorable 4 years of high school.

Kaelin Grobe
Treasurer of NHSDA

Kaelin Grobe has been a member of Ridge Dance since joining Collective in 7th grade. She is now a senior and has participated in DanceⅡ, Ridge Dance Team, Ridge Dance Collective, and NHSDA. This year Kaelin is beyond excited for the opportunity to be NHSDA Treasurer for her final year in the program. She is excited to meet new people and create new friendships, as well as work to support other dancers. She is beyond thankful for the community that Ridge Dance has offered her and for being given the opportunity to express herself and share her passion for dance. She is so excited to continue learning this year and knows that the life lessons she has learned will continue to impact her life. Ridge Dance has had such a meaningful impact on her life and she hopes that she helps others to experience the same thing. Kaelin is so excited for this season and can’t wait to share the stage with such amazing dancers.

Ridge Dance Social Media Coordinators

Jules O'Donnell
Social Media/Webcaster Coordinator

Jules O’Donnell has been a proud member of Ridge Dance since Freshman year and is now a Senior. She has been a part of the Dance II, Ridge Dance Collective, and now as a co-social media/webcaster coordinator. She is so excited to continue working alongside her teammates, and to build new friendships with members of the department. Jules feels so proud of the hard work and dedication everyone puts in making this program so special. She is so grateful for the impact the department has made on her, and the ever lasting memories made. For her, Ridge Dance is a place where she can express herself as a dancer, and where her ideas are encouraged and valued. Jules sees everyone in this department as family, which is a reflection of the supportive environment Mrs. Miranda has built. She has learned so many life lessons she will carry with her through her experience as a Ridge Dance member. Jules is looking forward to dancing in the upcoming showcases and events with such hardworking and talented dancers. She’s eager to make the most of her final year and can’t wait to help make it the best one yet! 

Mia Szikman
​Social Media/Webcaster Coordinator

Mia Szikman has been a member of Ridge Dance since the beginning of her freshman year. She is now honored to be part of NHSDA. In the past few years she has been in three winter showcases and two spring showcase. Her freshman year she was in Dance ll. After the half a year course she realized how much she had loved the ridge dance community so she had decided to join the team. Now she is in her third year of the team and second year of NHSDA. She is honored to say that she will be the social media manager for the 2025-2026 season. Mia has decided to commit her time to this team because of all the love that goes around. This group of girls are so supportive of each other, encourage each other, and are always there for each other. Being involved in Ridge Dance has encouraged her to step out of her comfort zone and try new areas of dance that she had never tried before because of all the opportunities Mrs. Miranda provides for her. Mia is looking forward to what this season of team has to offer. She is excited to grow as a group and improve as a dancer! GO RIDGE DANCE!!