Varsity dance team did not compete in the state competition this year, even though it is held in St. Louis, due to registering after the deadline.
“I have mixed emotions about it,” senior Dorothy Davis said. “I wanted one last chance.”
This season varsity dance team tried a variety of different styles of dances.
“I feel sad because it’s the seniors last year and we worked so hard on our dances”, senior Melissa Finn said. “But relieved because it would’ve put a lot of stress on the whole team.”
On the other hand, some dancers felt that it was a huge stress reliever, so they could enjoy their season a lot more.
“We would’ve had to practice so much,” junior Mariah Sindel said. “But it was nice that we were a little bit relaxed.”
The team had many seniors and felt that as a team hard work was put into the season despite not going to state.
“We had out downs,” senior varsity captain Shannon Stolte said. “But we started off strong by placing at camp.”
At the state competition, there is jazz, kick, pom, contemporary, and many other different types of dance to choose from. Varsity would’ve chosen pom, kick, and jazz this year.
“I think this year, we would’ve done really good on Pom and kick,” Davis said.
Normally, the dance team participates in state every other year as well as Nationals every other year. In addition, the location of state alternates between Kansas City and St. Louis each year.
“It wasn’t a big deal because we weren’t traveling,” Sindel said.
According to Stolte, last year “we performed very well” and placed third in kick. Last year at Nationals, the music for the kick dance messed up in the beginning and the judges allowed them to restart their performance. This year there was a new varsity dance teacher named Natalie Kiligore.
The state competition was held in St. Louis on Feb. 24. However, instead of attending state, the team had a scavenger hunt that weekend. Not attending the state competition also impacted the dancers’ families. Sindel’s mother originally planned a family trip the week of the state competition. However, anticipating varsity dance will attend state, she cancelled the family trip.
To end this year’s season, varsity dance team had a senior night, team sleepover, and a scavenger hunt.
“We ended our season with a lot of fun dances,” Finn said. “Especially since state was out of the picture.”