NDHS's 60-Year Aquacades Tradition Holds Strong

Gleeful screams will be heard around Notre Dame High School starting at 5 p.m. today where nearly 500 girls will be at the pool, decked out in their class colors.

Yes, it’s that time of year again. Belmont students have all been waiting for it. No, not graduation; Aquacades.

To a non-Tiger, what exactly is Aquacades?

“It’s something really hard to explain,” says Theresa Vallez-Kelly, Activities Director at NDB. “You can go as far back as the 1950’s and ask any woman who went to Notre Dame, and their face will change. They’ll want to talk about it. Its such a common experience and strong tradition.”

Aquacades has been going on in some form at Notre Dame Belmont for more 60 years. It did not become known as the annual tradition with the name “Aquacades” until 1958, where ‘coveted pennants’ were awarded, according to Notre Dame High School Belmont history.

Part rally, entertainment show, and spirit competition, Aquacades combines cheerleading, art, dance, and synchronized swimming all in one. The student body chooses an overall theme, and each class is given a category to work with.

This year’s theme is “Hall of Aqua-Fame: Music Legends” with seniors as “Rock Legends,” juniors as “Pop Legends,” sophomores as “Jazz/Blues/Motown Legends,” and freshwomen as “Latin Legends.”

Slightly breaking tradition, this year’s actual day of Aquacades falls on a Thursday instead of the normal Friday.

“It usually is on a Friday but tomorrow is the start of Easter Break so we wanted to do it before we go,” said Vallez-Kelly.

Senior Spartans in red, junior Warriors in green, sophomore Olympians in purple and the freshwomen Tritons in blue. Neighbors in the surrounding area around the high school are notified that the event will be taking place, and to not be alarmed.

The evening begins with students holding their own class picnics on the lawn prior to the event. There they will don face paint, put colored hair spray in their hair, and dress according to the theme and class color. Soon after, everyone meets in the small gym inside the school for the cheer competition and to admire the artistic work of the backdrop.

Next, the students file into the pool bleachers where the biggest part of the show begins. Each class performs in three categories: solo, duet, and group synchronized swimming. Each swim routine has a deck routine performance to introduce the swimmers. Deck routines are made up of groups of five to eight. Dancing, lip syncing, props and role playing are common.

Once every class performs, the teachers surprise students with their own comical dance and swim routine. And the Associated Student Body (ASB) perform their own number as well. Each routine is kept highly secret prior to performance nights. Judging is done by alumnae, who award points winners in each category and give spirit points to one overall category for best spirit.  

Tickets are sold to students for the event for $1 each, but not required for entrance. The proceeds from this year sales will go to the Japanese earthquake/tsunami relief funds.

Vallez-Kelly, who is in her ninth year of coordinating the event, says that when Aquacades begins, the 60-plus year ritual takes over. 

“I always feel when its starts that it just runs itself, the Aquacades spirit takes over. It’s pretty amazing that way,” she said.