Kourtney Kalahar fondly remembers performing as Principal Dancer in Sarasota Riverview High’s renowned Kiltie Band, doing a Scottish dance atop the bass drum held aloft by fellow band members under those Friday night lights.
“It was so cool,” she said. “One of the highlights of my life.”
The 2008 Riverview alum remembers something else – their rivalry with Manatee High. Not just between John Sprague’s Rams and Joe Kinnan’s Hurricanes, either.
The schools’ dance teams.
“When I was at Riverview, everyone knew the Sugar ‘Canes,” Kalahar said. “What we – the Highland Dancers – were to Sarasota, the Sugar ‘Canes were to Manatee County. Those were the teams. They were it.”
Sixteen years later, Kalahar is the Sugar ‘Canes new director, the program’s third in three years, and has made it her mission to restore the stature of an institution celebrating its 75 th anniversary Sept. 19-21.
“My goal is to bring back their traditions, bring back the excellence, the classiness. Bring the Sugar ‘Canes back to who they are to their core, who they should be, what they’ve always been. We’re going to bring them back to their roots. The Sugar ‘Canes are a kick team and have always been a kick team. So we’re going to focus on kick and pom, their core.”