227/365 Get those knees up

It's Junior Miss week, so eight high school girls are jumping, gliding, stressing, preparing, coping, and getting ready for the program on Sunday.

Monday night is always the night they learn the physical fitness routine. It's 8-9 minutes of constant movement. Beth Ann, the choreographer, throws in jumping jacks, squats, kicks, tae bo, spins, you name it. At state, the girls have had to do push-ups and sit-ups on stage as well, but our local program just keeps them on their feet the whole time.
Their normal schedules don't stop for this week. They have swim practice, volleyball, band, cheerleading, homework... all in the name of earning scholarships. The two girls in band have it especially tough this year because the marching band qualified for the state finals, which happens to be this coming Saturday -- one day before the Junior Miss program.

Good luck convincing the band director to let them out of practice.

Tuesday night I'll teach them the self-expression portion of the program. It may seem like a cake walk compared to fitness, but stepping up to the microphone and thoughtfully answering a question can easily topple the faint of heart.

I love it.

Camera: Canon 40D, 1/60s, f/4.5 and f/4 at ISO 1600 in mixed lighting.