GABLETTES & CO.
The Tradition Begins
The Gablettes Dance Team was founded in 1975 under the direction of Connie Mosure. Mosure was working as the Coral Gables Senior High gymnastics teacher when she was asked by Nick Koty to create a new performing group, separate from the already existing Cavalettes.
The Cavalettes were a marching team, eventually incorporating poms into their routines. Mosure established the Gablettes as an auxiliary dance group to the CGHS Band of Distinction. She hand-picked girls from the dance classes and gymnastics team to create the first squad.
Eventually the Cavalettes dissolved, and the Gablettes, Color Guard, and Majorettes were the primary groups performing with the band. The team separated from the band in the 2000-2001 school year, and began doing half time and second half performances on the sidelines. They continue to perform at pep rallies, do grandstands at football games, host Fall Frolics and Gablette Revue, and perform at various parades and events throughout the community, in addition to competing on the regional, state, and national level.
Directors
The team has had six directors.
Connie Mosure
Founder 1975
Director 1975-1981
Rosanna Karpiak
Director 1981 -1999
Gablette class of 1976
Bertha Lopez Lowell
Director 1999-2006
Gablette class of 1993
Shana Wexler
Director 2005-2006
Karla Briceno
Director 2007-2011
Gablette class of 1999
Mo Marmesh
Director 2006-2007, 2011-2015
Gablette class of 2002
Veronica Montes Childs
Director 2015-Present
Gablette class of 1999
Becoming the Gablettes
The Gablette name was created by the team's first group of officers. On the way to camp Mosure told the girls they needed a team name before they arrived at the camp. So, riding in the back of a truck, the Gablette name was born.
Signature Checkers
The team's signature uniform, affectionately known as "Checkers," was designed in part by the original class of 1976 team. The uniform consists of a red pleated skirt, white long sleeve shirt with a bow at the collar, red and white checkered vest, and red trunks. For many years the team kicked with white boots, eventually switching to baton shoes with white slouch socks, keds, and back to baton shoes.
Here Come the Freshmen
In 1992-1993, Gables admitted their first class of freshmen. Previously, 9th grade was a part of junior high. Therefore the 1992-1993 team was the first to include freshmen Gablettes.
The Dance Room
The dance room as we know it today was originally one of the school's drafting rooms. In the 1983-1984 school year, the room transitioned to a dance facility. The wood floor was not installed until around 1989, in part due to team member Debbie Langer getting hurt on the concrete floor.
Fall Frolics
The first Fall Frolics in the form it is known today was during the 1979-1980 school year. The Orchesis club director gave up the fundraiser and Mosure took it over, highlighting dances performed by the Gablettes.
Gablette Revue
The first Gablette Revue was during the 1977-1978 school year. It continues to be a part of the team's tradition, showcasing choreography by team members and recognizing the seniors as they graduate from the program.
The Sweethearts
The Gablette Sweethearts were created during the 1979-1980 school year. The sweethearts are comprised of senior boys (unless there is a male on the team, and in that case senior girls can be sweethearts), who are usually highly involved in school activities and athletics, and are supporters and friends of Gablette members. They perform with the senior Gablettes at pep rallies, in dance shows, and often travel to competitions and performances to support the team. In 2009, the seniors jokingly assigned a sweetheart captain, and have been assigning sweetheart officer positions ever since.
Gablettes & Co.
In Spring of 2001, under the direction of Bertha Lopez Lowell, the Gablettes accepted their first male dancer on the team, Jimmy Arguello (2001-2004). The team changed their name to The Gablettes & Co. to adequately reflect the inclusion of males on the team. Christofer Medina (2007-2010) and Esdras Castillo (2010-2013) are the only other male dancers to have made the squad. Interestingly enough, all three joined as sophomores.
Legacy
The first mother/daughter team members were Barbra Hayes Harley and Elizabeth Harley. Barbra was a Gablette who graduated in 1985. Elizabeth was a four year member and Gablette Captain who graduated in 2013. Barbra's youngest daughter, Eleanor, joined the squad in 2012-2013 as a freshmen.
The Competitive Spirit
The first year the Gablettes were invited to compete at a national dance competition was 1989. They competed exclusively in the high kick category up until 1993 when they also started competing in the jazz category. The team won their first national championship in 1998 at the Marching Auxiliary (MA) Competition held at SeaWorld in Dallas, Texas. This started a five year winning streak. In 1999, the team placed first in both pom and kick, and received a perfect score from one of their kick judges. In 2000 and 2001 they won kick championships again. In 2002, the team won both the Varsity Jazz and Varsity High Kick categories at the U.S. Dance Drill Championships. It wasn't until 2009 that team brought home another first place ranking, this time in the JV jazz category at NDA, which they also won in 2010 and 2011. In 2013, the team earned another dual championship, this time in the medium varsity team performance category, their first varsity win in 11 years, and also in the JV kick category. In 2015, they brought home another double win at NDA Nationals, and dominated the kick category by winning Small Varsity Kick and Junior Varisty Kick.
Captains
1976 Rosanna Karpiak
1977 Maria Reyes
1978 Nellan Raines Meek
1979
1980 Arlene Krystopa
1981 Trisha Searle
1982 Preston Payne
1983 Debbie Dasaro
1984 Maria Ortega
1985 Kathy Williamson
1986
1987 Juliana Schmidtke Schiavo
1988 Sara Dominik
1989 Lana Vecino
1990 Melissa Mielke
1991 Cindy Espinosa
1992 Michelle Leon
1993 Deirdre Dunn
1994 Nicole Ferrera
1995 Ivette Hackney
1996 Heather Coule
1997 Morinda Lodge
1998 Melissa Morris
1999 Maribel Toro
2000 Natalie Pascarella
2001 Cindy Haim
2002 Mo Marmesh
2003 Stephanie Bestulich
2004 Ashley Mills
2005 Michelle Kates
2006 Gabriela Vazquez
2007 Annalis Garrido
2008 Yannell Selman
2009 Paola Leal
Nadina Liberatore
2010 no captain
2011 Melissa Martin
2012 Maya Billig
2013 Elizabeth Harley
2014 Alexis Mendez
2015 Carolina Cabello
Sofia Sanz de Acedo
2016 Marcela Hernandez
Sweetheart Captains
2009 Willie Casas
2010 Chris Cruz
2011 Kevin Fletcher
2012 Mateus Tuon
2013 Ryan Francis
2014 Cole Scanlon
2015 Andy Moreira
