SISTERS STAND TOGETHER Josie and Juliet Roether pose in costume ahead of competition season at Dance BEAT. After years of sharing the stage, the Roether sisters continue to grow together as dancers, balancing rehearsals, schoolwork, and sisterhood. “We’ve been doing everything together, so I love watching her grow with every dance that she performs,” said Josie.

The studio is quiet except for the soft echo of synchronized steps, where Josie and Juliet Roether move easily in matching rhythm. For the sisters, dancing isn’t just a hobby; it’s a shared language. Both dancers at Dance BEAT, they spend countless hours each week perfecting routines, rehearsing formations, and cheering each other on from the studio floor. Josie Roether ‘27, the older of the two, first found her way to dance through theater as a child. 

“My instructor recruited me for dancing, so I started at a really young age,” Josie said. “I’ve been dancing competitively since sixth grade.”

Now a senior studio member, Josie dances 15 to 20 hours a week. 

“It’s a lot of work,” she said. “I love it and it’s my whole life, but it’s a huge time commitment.” 

Balancing school and dance hasn’t been easy, especially with college applications approaching. Still, Josie says she wouldn’t trade it for anything. 

“I’m hoping to either dance in college or study it,” she said. “Even after college, I want to teach or dance professionally. As a matter of fact, being an NFL cheerleader has always been my dream.”

Juliet Roether ’31, Josie’s younger sister, recently joined the same competition team. 

“It’s really fun that I get to see her dance with me,” she said. “And she gets to see me dance too.”

Juliet, who describes dance as “really fun” and a great way to spend time with friends, looks up to her sister both on and off the stage. 

“My biggest motivation is probably my sister and my parents because it makes them happy when they see me dance,” she said.

At their last competition, Juliet admits things didn’t go perfectly. 

“I was a little disappointed because I forgot some of my solo dance,” she said. “But I felt like my other dances went pretty well.”

Josie knows the feeling. 

“There are times when you don’t do as well as you hoped,” she said. “It’s disappointing, but it pushes me to do harder because you can’t really control what the judges say.”

Their instructor, Amanda Post, has watched both sisters grow over the years. 

“Josie has been with me since middle school, and she’s one of the most hardworking students I’ve had,” Post said. “Juliet brings this bright energy to every class; she’s still developing her technique, but she has such heart. You can tell they motivate each other.”

Post recalls a moment last season when Josie learned one of the most challenging competition dances in just a week. 

“It was one of the hardest routines we had, and she performed it twice,” Post said. “That’s the kind of dancer Josie is: determined and fearless.”

Juliet’s growth has been just as exciting to watch. 

“Getting her splits was a big milestone for her,” Post said. “She worked so hard on her flexibility, and you could see how proud she was when she finally did it.”

For both sisters, dancing together has created a special bond. 

“I could not imagine not seeing my sister in the studio or not complaining to her about my dances and my performances at competitions,” Josie said.

As the team prepares for its upcoming competition season, their first in early January, the Roether sisters will continue to share the stage, supporting each other every step, leap, and turn along the way.

“Dance takes everything you’ve got,” Josie said. “You have to put your whole heart into it. But when I see Juliet dancing next to me, it reminds me why I love it so much.”