Pom poms, dancing, pep! These would probably come to mind when thinking about cheerleading, but at BHS they are also synonymous with Rhythm B’s. The Rhythm B’s, Beaverton High’s dance team, is one of our oldest extracurricular activities. The team was founded in 1958 as a drill team. Precision drill teams first began at Texas high schools as a cross between dance and marching. Drill teams serve to create school spirit and provide entertainment during the halftime of football and basketball games. 

While the B’s usually dance to music played by the pep band, they often incorporate pop music into their routines. At one assembly this year, they performed the popular dance routine to the hit song “Hot to Go!” by Chappell Roan. The Rhythm B’s are probably best known as a staple at every school assembly, closing it out by dancing to the Beaverton High School fight song, “Hats off to Beavers.” Another popular tradition is the annual “Rhythm Boys” performance, in which the team teaches a group of senior boys a dance routine to perform during an assembly. 

However, despite the visibility – like many activities, the B’s have struggled to attract new members since the pandemic and participation remains in the single digits. This year, the team will lose seven seniors who are graduating. 

One senior, Narra Pagtakhan, signed up for the Rhythm B’s this year because her friends encouraged her to do it. “I thought the moves and pom poms made the dances super unique, and they were pop songs I enjoyed listening to,” said Pagtakhan. 

Unlike other school dance teams, the B’s are the only group in Beaverton School District who don’t compete in the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) competition. Next year, that’s going to change. The B’s will be able to compete as a team in categories such as traditional, jazz, hip hop and in the individual dance category called “drill down.” Coach Brooke Billings hopes the change to competition and the new dance styles will attract more students to join the team. 

“The other 6A dance teams in our area have a large number of students who participate,” said Billings. “It may take a few years for the new era of Rhythm B’s to get to that level, but we are positive that BHS has the students to get us there.” 

The team is already preparing for the next season. The Rhythm B’s are set to host try-outs on April 21-24th from 4 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. for current BHS students & from 6:15 p.m. – 8 p.m. for incoming ninth graders in the lower cafeteria. All are welcome to try out! 

Pagtakhan said one thing students should know about the B’s is, “With the traditional moves, when you learn one of them it’s really easy to learn how to do the other moves.” 

To learn more about the Rhythm B’s…

Try-out sign-up form: Dance Team Tryouts 

Email: [email protected] 

Follow them on Instagram: @beavertonhigh.rhythmbs