The captain for the Cardettes in 2011-2012 couldn’t be happier for the opportunity to continue performing and dancing at the college level, she said.
“I was really excited to be able to keep dancing after high school,” the senior at Harlingen High School said. “I love dancing. After doing it here for four years, it’s become a passion of mine.”
During her time with the Cardettes, Barajas earned All-American Dancer honors three years in a row. She was also selected to the Kick Company for the American Dance and Drill team.
“The Cardettes have been a big influence in my life,” she said. “Without them, I wouldn’t be the dancer I am today. It pushed me, and gave me drive to be better.”
Barajas chose Texas State to study communications because she loves the mid-sized, college town feel to it, she said. She will also be a part of a drill team that’s rich in tradition, an important factor in her decision.
The Strutters, formed in 1960, were the first precision dance team formed at a four-year university,according to the team’s website. As the largest precision dance team in the country, they boast over 3,000 alumnae, and are recognized as one of the premiere dance teams in the nation.
“At Texas State, being on the team is like being a part of a family,” she said. “So I’m looking forward to joining a new group and being a Strutter.”
