"Boom shaka lakla! Boom shaka laka laka!" "One,two three,four"! "Step and turn!", commands Khalilah Espada, captain of the Charlotte Amalie High School Flag Team.
Monday through Friday after school at CAHS 16 girls on the Flag Team can be found diligently practicing their drills of high step marching and dancing with snappy flag salutes.
The team practices with the CAHS marching band and will accompany the band with a halftime performance when the football games begin. The team also goes to competitions off island and every two years travels to international events.. In previous years the team has gone to England and Canada to represent the territory in competitions.
To be a part of the Flag Team the girls must have grades of at least a C plus in school and be willing to practice daily after school. New members must try out for the veteran members. Besides enjoying marching, the girls joined the team to be involved in a performing group that encourages physical fitness and raises school spirit.
The CAHS Flag Team won't be found in the Carnival parade though, since the twirling flags were judged to be unsafe in a crowd. But, they will be performing with the band at the Lionel Roberts Stadium for the first tackle football game, between CAHS on Monday, D. Hamilton Jackson Day, at 4 p.m.
As the girls claim,"We are the beauty of the band!"