Sewing: Milby students, alumni carry on legacy of Cadettes drill team, nearly 100 years later

Inside the massive gymnasium at Milby High School, 14 women in black leggings, T-shirts, and sneakers move into formation like dancers in a Beyoncé song. Someone in the group starts the countdown, then “Lady Marmalade” from the “Moulin Rouge” soundtrack blasts through the gym speakers. Just like that, the women are transported back to high school, when their teenage worlds were all about dance and sisterhood. It has been 30 to 40 years since most of the women graduated from high school here, yet they are as happy as schoolgirls to be together as the Milby Cadettes, the precision drill team nearly as old as the school. Originally a drum and bugle corps, the group was founded in 1926. Today, the rhythm of the music fuels their high kicks, hip twists and finger snaps. MORE FROM JOY SEWING: My foster care journey ended with court-room joy. I wished more kids got this chance Since March, the group has been meeting at the school’s gym for up to three hours two to three times a week to practice for the Milby Cadettes' second annual spring show on April 29. It’s the first time alumni, along with the current Cadettes, will be featured together — an idea inspired by the oldest alumnus to perform, 85-year-old Georgia Ann Marquette. The women may have families, careers and thicker waistlines now, but their love of dance has spanned the decades. Letty Quiñones comes from a family of Cadettes; her sisters and cousins have been part of the team through the years. “Being back here has brought back so many memories,” Quiñones said. “The Cadettes taught me about life — disappointment, happiness, real-life stuff. I loved everything about it. I never wanted to be anything else in high school.” At a recent alumni rehearsal, the current Cadettes, who are Milby juniors and seniors, sat in the stands watching the practice. They whistled and cheered the women on, just as they would boost each other. It was a show of solidarity, respect and joy. “We are a sisterhood and a team of girls who really uplift and support each other and bring positive energy every day to the practice, to the field or to a performance we have. We all just love each other, and we are a family,” said junior Rebecca De Luna. The Cadettes were originally called the Coed Cadettes. As many as 200 girls were on the team in the 1950s. They wore Western hats, short skirts, fringed tops and boots, and served as ushers at area events, including the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. But by 2010, the team was on the decline and then disbanded. Principal Ruth Peña, a 1993 Milby graduate and former Cadette, was determined to bring the team back when she joined the school six years ago. In 2021, she hired dance teacher Lauren Harrington to lead its comeback. There are currently 22 Cadettes and, by next year, there will be 32. “When I was in the drill team, it was my passion and made me forget about any issues I had,” Peña said. “It was such a positive environment, and it kept us engaged. The Cadettes faded out about a decade ago with the time and generational changes. I wanted to bring back the drill team — the unity, love and sisterhood.” Having the alumni perform is a way to give the current Cadettes a sense of belonging and understanding that they are part of a rich legacy and the “Milby love,” said Peña, who had to skip the alumni rehearsal that night because of the school’s prom. The Cadettes' resurgence has been a shining light for many girls who might have struggled with the social isolation of the pandemic and the stress of teen life, she said. Doncell Aviles, a junior, said that before she joined the team, she wasn’t making the best choices in school. “I thought it would help me straighten up and put me on the right path,” she said. “It’s taught me about responsibility and accountability for myself. It has changed my mindset, not just for school but in my life, and helped me to see things more positively. If it wasn’t for this, I probably wouldn’t even be thinking about college.” For Alyssa Boan, also a junior, being a Cadette has helped with the loss of loved ones. “I had family members who passed away, and they liked seeing me dance, so I dance now just for them. Hopefully they are watching me,” she said. MORE FROM JOY SEWING: Remembering the late Harry Belafonte and his love-hate relationship with Houston The Milby Cadettes' weekend performance isn’t only for entertainment. The team is hoping to raise funds to help with uniforms, competitions, travel and other related expenses. Other high schools with more established drill teams often have well-cemented fund-raising efforts. The Cadettes are just getting started. “It’s a competitive sport, and the funds they need for competition are important,” said Anna Marie Protz, a 1987 Milby graduate and former Cadette. “The goal is to raise money. If we can sell out these 300 seats and raise the girls some money, they will have a nest egg. It also gives these girls valuable skills in organizing, working with people of different backgrounds and cultures, and you learn to respect that when you are on a team.” Just six weeks ago, many of the alumni group only knew each other through Facebook. Five weeks ago, they started rehearsing. Now, they see each other almost daily. “We come here two, three or four nights a week sometimes. That tells you we are dedicated to doing this and helping the next generation of Cadettes girls. This gives them skill and develops a pipeline to success, and if I need to dance more to help build that pipeline, I’ll do it,” said Protz, who choreographed the alumni group’s routine with Sonia Ramirez. At rehearsal, Marquette, who graduated from Milby in 1955, coaches the group. She makes a high-pitched sound like a whistle to signal to the women to start marching, and they do it. Marquette, herself, marches in place wearing sparkly Steve Madden sneakers that are right for the moment. “You have to remember to smile, regardless of what you’re doing. Brush your teeth good, then smile,” she tells the women. Marquette’s memories of being a Cadette are as vivid now as the experiences were then. She recalls the time the team’s skirts were deemed too short, so 2 inches of fringe had to be added to the hemline. And there were the times the Cadettes performed across the city at parades and events —and they even traveled to New Orleans. “Anytime there was something going on, we just jumped in. We were a team,” she said. “It was such a fun time, and we had such pride in what we were doing. We left a big legacy.” The new generation of Milby Cadettes has big dreams ahead. For them, Marquette has some advice: “If you’re going to do it, do it right and put everything you can into it.” joy.sewing@houstonchronicle.com

Sewing: Milby students, alumni carry on legacy of Cadettes drill team, nearly 100 years later

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