As The Chainsmokers made their way to the stage, the Apache Belles prepared to perform just steps away, bringing a piece of TJC to one of the biggest stages in the world.
For the third time in history, the Apache Belles performed at the Super Bowl. Leading the line was sophomore Paige Phlieger, the head dance captain.
Nerves were high among the 20 sophomores who attended this year, especially as they were performing in California for a crowd of over 10,000. Adaptability was part of the team. Once the music started, muscle memory took over.
“It’s nerve wracking, for sure, because you have all these people messaging, ‘You have so much fun,’ ‘Good luck,’” Phlieger said. “Then you realize that you’re a part of making the day magical for all the people who have tickets to the game.”
The last Apache Belles line to perform at the Super Bowl was in 1978. Now, 48 years later, the 78th line continued that tradition. Phlieger reflects on the legacy of the Belles who came before her.
“It’s been cool to connect with those Belles who went to the Super Bowl before, and hear their stories compared to ours now, and get to honor them in that way,” Phlieger said.
Phlieger, a sophomore majoring in nursing, grew up with educators, her father being a basketball coach and her mother, a drill team director.
“I kind of had a 50/50, shot at doing either of those, and tried both of them out, but dance was always the winner in that category,” Phlieger said. “I would go to practices with my mom, and that’s kind of how I fell in love with the drill team side of things.”
For Phlieger, leadership has always come naturally for her, a quality that has shaped her since high school and now at TJC.
“I’ve always been like a helper. I want to be able to bring a group of people together and show them their potential. So, being able to help people is really big to me,” Phlieger said.
For Phlieger, choosing TJC as an Apache Belle was meaningful. She heard about the organization through her mom and alumni connections. What stood out the most was the tradition. TJC’s academics and dance program left a big impression.
“Apache Belles have something that not many other places are still able to offer. And you can come and be an Apache Belle for those two years and then go off to a four-year university and still be able to have a dance experience,” Phlieger said.
Now, her responsibilities go beyond performing.
Phlieger is part of the process in practice, helping the team look good and feel good on and off the stage.
“None of it feels like a job to me. It’s an honor, so I take it very seriously,” Phlieger said.
Now, Phlieger’s graduation is approaching, and her nursing applications are pending. While she prioritizes her future in the health care field, Phlieger knows dance will never leave her life.
“I’ll always keep dancing in some capacity, and I would love at some point to come back to Belles for something,” Phlieger said. “We have a graduate assistant position, I would love to be able to do that, maybe, and always be in the dance world.”
“The circle has never been broken,” a common phrase for the Apache Belles that has been alive for nearly 78 years. Phlieger’s leaderships reaches beyond the stage. For Jorja Flake, one of the 78th line members, Phlieger is more than a captain.
“As a captain and as a friend, she’s taught me that no matter the circumstances or outcomes, things will always be OK. Through trials we’ve faced, Paige always has trust in the Lord’s plan and purpose for our team,” Flake said. “This organization is so strong and always overcomes any challenges it might face.”
