What began as a simple spaghetti dinner in a Belles' family home years ago has turned into a beloved and much-anticipated annual community event to celebrate HPISD's high school dance team.
Friday evening, Sept. 6, the Highland Park High School Highland Belles and all their biggest fans attended the Belles' 30th Annual Spaghetti Supper, themed "The IncrediBelles," in the school cafeteria.
Guests perused the HPHS cafeteria, stopping to glance at possible bidding items, ranging from massage sessions and food establishment gift cards to autographed sports items like a Troy Aikman football helmet.
Belles greeted guests as they came in and lent helping hands with the Supper, some even volunteering to decorate young Scots fans with temporary spirit tattoos.
It seemed that nearly everyone in the Park Cities had stopped in for a plate of spaghetti and a bowl of salad, as hundreds of Scots and Belles fans talked over the Italian cuisine, courtesy of Amore Italian Restaurant, and shopped for items to bid on in the DJ music-filled cafetorium.
Belles Director Shannon Phillips said the Spaghetti Supper is the drill team's only fundraiser each school year.
"Over the past 30 years, it has morphed into what you see now," she said. Every year, Spaghetti Supper falls on the Scots' first home game of the season, a tradition that ensures the crowd is especially pumped up.
All the money raised through ticket sales and silent auction profits go toward Belles sound equipment, away game transportation, travel expenses associated with dance competitions, and props, since HPHS or the district do not fund the Belles organization.
Belles Booster Club President Lisa Reid has been part of the planning for the Spaghetti Supper since January. The whole cycle, which doesn't end until October, when the last of the auction winners retrieve their items, is about a ten-month process.
Reid said new Belle moms are responsible for soliciting local businesses and Belles supporters for items to include in the auction.
She has had two daughters go through the Belles organization, including Reagan Reid, a Senior Belle. Through her daughters' involvement on the dance team, Reid said, "We've met so many friends and fostered so many relationships that we'll have for years."
In addition to learning how to become top-notch dancers, Reid said her girls have learned discipline, the ability to work with a team and how to become leaders in the high school.
Senior Belles Lieutenant Staley Rose is a third-year member of the team who has been dancing since age three.
"I can't really remember a time when I didn't want to be a Belle," the longtime Park Cities resident and student said, recalling one year when she dressed up in the blue-and-yellow uniform for Halloween, complete with fringe.
Rose said being a Belle may look glamorous, but it's hard work. Lieutenants host weekly practices at their homes to help prep the team for the next week's performance at Scots football games.
"You get on the team, and that's awesome, but there's so much more work to be done," Rose said.
In her years of being a Belle, Rose said she has learned leadership skills and time management.
"I'm never late for anything," she said. "With the Belles, I feel like I've gotten into a routine. That's transferred into school and helps me with my discipline for studying."
Rose said she will take what she has learned from dancing with the Belles with her wherever she ends up for college (the University of Texas, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest are on her radar).
Next up for Rose, the Belles and Phillips? Another Scots home game, this time against Sherman High School on Friday, Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m. The Belles will entertain the crowd with their field kick routine during halftime.