Drill Team Keeps Group Fit And Focused - FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; kptm.com |

Leah Uko

OMAHA (KPTM) – For 15 years a community group has given adults an activity to do that, in the past, was notorious for only high school students—a drill team. But the team means more to them than dancing and they want more people in Omaha to join.

The Ol' Skool Drill Team performs in cities like New Orleans, Chicago and St. Louis.

But they learn their moves and gain their stamina in Omaha at practice.

"I wasn't always this size. I used to be bigger," says the team's director, Joy Borsak.

Borsak says being a member has helped her in many ways.

"It has brought me from a cloudy marriage to the sunshine that I am today."

Members say coming to practice on Monday and Wednesday nights lets them escape the stress in their lives like divorce, their kids and work.

"You get away from all of that," says Natia Hutt who joined the team a year ago. "Here it's just dance, fun and music."

They compare Ol' Skool Drill Team practices to Zumba, but with extras.

"You're actually performing. You're actually doing things. You're actually going places," says the team's communications director Shelly Rogers. "You're not just in a facility where no body ever gets to see."

"It does take a lot of practice and you can do," says Toni Lewis.

The team also takes some money. Performing all over can cost thousands of dollars. Money goes toward band equipment, uniforms and travel costs.

"Some years it's $1,000. Some years it's $150," says Borsak.

The average age of members is around 35, but the minimum age to join is 21 years old. They make exceptions for 18 and 19 year olds because adults, like teenagers and kids, find trouble when their time is idle.

"I'd probably be in jail. I think so, because my family is an inspiration to me. Whatever they're doing is basically what I want to do too," says Dijuan Coran who plays the bass drum. "They have jobs. They're keeping their heads straight."

"People sit around and feel like there's nothing to do in Omaha. But there's always something to do. You can create something to do like we did," says Dorothy Winston who is one of the youngest members on the team.

They want the team's membership to expand and be city-wide.

"It's not just for north Omaha. We want it to be for Omaha—the city of Omaha," says Borsak.

She says a lot of adults want to be healthy. And even more want to spend their free time being proactive.