Tracey Anderson

After 25 years of teaching Leander High School students how to properly pirouette, high-kick and lock-step, Blue Belles director Tracey Anderson retired at the end of the school year in June. Anderson began her career with Leander ISD as a middle school teacher and later was asked by former principal Charles Rouse to teach English at Leander High School. In 1989, Anderson took over direction of the Blue Belles dance team and said within a few years, dance was the only class she taught. The Blue Belles forego competitions against other high school teams and focus on developing professional dance skills which they can use as instructors, performers or on dance teams, Anderson said. Susan Schubert has been the Blue Belles assistant director for the past 19 years and will take over the director position, Anderson said. What has changed the most about the Blue Belles in the past 25 years? The whole world of dance is different. Girls that were on my team even six or seven years ago probably wouldn't make it today. [TV shows such as] "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Dancing With the Stars" have changed the face of dance. The level of dance across the country has skyrocketed, and it has been important to me as a director to stay current. How did you make this a desirable dance program? I made myself a promise when I took over ... that I wanted to cater to the advanced dancer. I run a high school dance team, but in school, you get students ready for the next step. I'm getting my kids ready to go dance in college or go try out for the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders or the [Houston] Texans [cheerleaders]. What's next for you? It's not easy because I've been living and breathing it 24/7 for 25 years, but I feel like my work is done here as the director. My older daughter, who has danced professionally in L.A. and was a [Dallas Cowboys] cheerleader, she's back in town and [with] one of my former captains, formed a company called MV. They ... are going to schools and choreographing. When I am done here, I would like to join them and help them out.