The Valley Catholic Charisma Dance Team closed its season with a historic performance at the 2025 State Championships, bringing home two first-place titles in the Jazz and Traditional categories.
In the Traditional Category, the team’s routine, “Losing My Grip,” earned the highest score of the entire competition — 89.81 — securing Valley Catholic’s third state championship in this division. In the Jazz Category, “Wilted” wowed the judges with a score of 89.44, the second-highest score of the competition, and marked the team’s third consecutive state title in Jazz. In total, Charisma has earned six state titles in the last three years.
Special recognition also goes to Zoey Lucas, who placed in the top six in the 1A-4A Drill Down, and to Sophia Nguyen and Rachel Dang, who each received Dance Drill Coaches Association scholarships for their talent and leadership.
As co-coaches, Jessica Anderson and Megan Hoffman ’04 are stepping away after 19 years of leading the program. We sat down with them to reflect on their journey — from humble beginnings to building one of the most respected programs in Oregon High School Dance. Their legacy is defined not only by wins, but by the community and culture they cultivated through nearly two decades of visionary leadership.
Anderson and Hoffman began coaching together in 2006, after both women responded to the same job posting on OregonLive. Neither woman could have predicted how that coincidence would spark a 19-year collaboration that would lead Charisma to 14 state titles and cultivate a team culture rooted in trust, creativity, and fierce dedication.
For Hoffman, Charisma has always been personal. A member of the first-ever Valley Catholic Charisma team in 2000-01, she found not just a sport, but a place to belong. “Dance Team gave me a place to feel safe,” she recalled. “It pushed me, and it gave me family.” Jessica, too, brought her passion from her days dancing at Wilsonville High School. “I was obsessed,” she said. “When I saw Charisma perform for the first time, I admired their creativity, and when I saw the job posting to coach, I knew it was an amazing opportunity for me.”
Together, Anderson and Hoffman built a program that not only excelled competitively but emphasized growth, belonging, and artistic risk-taking. Their choreography became known for its musicality and storytelling. It pushed boundaries and elevated the Charisma team’s reputation statewide. But for both coaches, the wins were never just about trophies.
“Our motto has always been, ‘No excuses. No regrets,’” Megan Hoffman said. “The greatest achievement is the culture we have created. Charisma dancers give their all, they fully support each other, and they leave stronger and more complete than when they first joined in.”
Charisma’s no-cut policy allowed students of all backgrounds and skill levels to join. For Jessica and Megan, that inclusivity became a strength. “Some of our best dancers started with no experience,” Jessica shared. “We focused on growth. We wanted to get our dancers out of their comfort zones and learning something new.”
The Charisma coaches’ commitment was all-encompassing. From early morning choreography sessions and long evenings at practice to several hours spent perfecting routines in school hallways, they consistently encouraged their athletes and artists to refine their craft. Their dedication inspired generations of students, many of whom have remained close friends long after graduation.
“There’s no greater honor than seeing alumni return to see practices while they are on college breaks,” Megan said. “Hearing them wish they had just one more season with the team confirms to us that all the hard work is worth it.”
Both Jessica and Megan acknowledge that the pandemic was among the most difficult moments of their careers. In 2020, just one week before the state competition, the season was canceled. “That will always be my ‘what if’ season,” Jessica said. “We poured everything into getting ready for that competition.” And yet, through all the uncertainty, they moved forward. They got on Zoom, masked up and danced outdoors. They did whatever it took because their dancers never gave up.
One standout season for both Jessica and Megan was 2015. That was when Charisma performed a routine called “Tethered” to win its first 4A state title. “It was our first big risk,” Jessica said. “It had everything – creativity, precision, musicality – it showed us what we could do!”
This year, VC Charisma closed the coaches’ 19th season with an undefeated record.
As they retire, Jessica and Megan leave behind more than a legacy. They leave behind a blueprint for excellence, creativity, and compassion. They have shown that success comes not just from perfecting choreography but from building trust, offering grace, and leading with heart.
“I hope I’m remembered as an encourager,” Megan said, “as someone who believed in her dancers, no matter where they started.”
“I hope they remember that Charisma is, at its core, a safe place to try something new,” Jessica added. “You never know what you can try that could end up being the best time of your life.”
The future of Charisma is still unfolding, but the foundation has been firmly built. As new leadership steps in, Jessica and Megan remain confident. “We were once brand-new coaches, too,” Jessica said. “Look where that led.”
To their dancers past and present, both offered the same message: “Thank you.”
“You have made our lives better,” said Jessica. “We’re better people because we had the chance to coach you.”
“You gave me the honor of a lifetime,” added Megan. “And I will always be grateful for that.”
