Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Lylah Conway became the first Rebel to sign on to dance in college on Wednesday. Conway committed to Southern Union and will be a member of the Bison’s Dance Team in the Fall.

Chambers Academy has had a dance team for two years, giving Conway little time to attract colleges’ attention. 

“Ms. [Ciara] Hornsby, she started talking to me about [dancing in college] while going into the second year…She was like I’m gonna help you out in every way possible I can and I was just overwhelmed with the support I had from her and I’m so grateful to have this Ms. Hornsby by my side,” said Conway of Ciara Hornsby, the Chambers dance team coach.

She said her coach had walked her through what to expect and helped her prepare for college auditions. Southern Union’s team was one to aspire to for the Rebel dancers. 

“Throughout the two years, our team has been to almost every single dance event they’ve ever had,” Conway said. “I’ve just got to know the dancers and their instructor, Miss Sonia Fincher, really well.”

The senior auditioned for Southern Union’s team a couple of months ago and said she “felt so welcome.” She got her letter shortly after the audition. On Wednesday, she put pen to paper, making it official. 

“The support I have is so overwhelming, my team, my coach, my friends and the school. Even at the signing, we had so many people come,” she said.

Conway was joined at her signing by MaKinlea Foster, who also signed with the Bisons for cheerleading.  

“The cheerleaders they take one dance class a week so I’ll get to be seeing her and I’m just so glad I’ll have a friend at Southern Union and sharing the day with her during signing was the best,” Conway said. 

While the dancer is excited about the next chapter, she will always be proud of her time as a Rebel. 

“They poured a lot of support into our program and Ms. Hornsby she even built her own dance studio in our house to support us…I’m just so grateful for Chambers Academy and Miss Hornsby [and for] leading us into our next step in our lives,” Conway said. “Telling us we can do anything and making us believe we can do anything we put our minds to.