Lancer Dancer Updates: A recap of NDA nationals

Current Placement

• This past weekend, the varsity Lancer Dancers went to the National Dance Alliance High School Nationals in Orlando, Florida. All three of their dances — gameday, hip-hop and jazz — qualified for finals. They placed fourth in gameday, sixth in hip-hop and 11th in jazz. Last year, the team didn’t make finals for jazz and placed eighth in gameday and seventh in hiphop.

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Key Performers3

• Junior Varsity Captains- Juniors Anne Bowser, Gretchen Anast and Caroline Hoffman
• Varsity Captains- Seniors Macy Fore, Lyla Weeks and Jane Rasmussen 

These captains have previous years of experience before they achieve their roles and have to face the competition of others applying for these positions.

 Upcoming Competitions

• Both the JV and varsity Lancer Dancers are done competing.

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Strengths

The biggest strength of the varsity team is their ability to work together, according to assistant coach Hayley Robinson. NDA allowed the varsity team’s bond to become even stronger because of how much time they spent together.

“[The dancers] make everyone feel included during practice,” Robinson said. “Our circle time before we go on stage, everyone says corrections and changes, and a lot of people chime in. I think this is such a great strength for the team, is everyone having something to say and not just captains.”

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Weaknesses

Head coach Alexis Close does not view the team as having weaknesses, aside from not having enough time. Instead, she views weaknesses as the team needing to know how to play to their strengths. She focuses on improving and showcasing what they are best at doing. The team worked on stamina and endurance before nationals.

“I think the hardest, the most challenging thing we have is that we never feel like we have enough time,” Close said “It just always keeps getting closer and closer, and we could use even more time than we actually have.”

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Injuries

• Senior and varsity captain Lyla Weeks got the flu on Feb. 15, the second to last day of nationals, but she was still able to compete.

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Other

• On Feb. 17, both varsity and JV performed at their last basketball games of the season.
• On March 6 and March 27 pre-tryout clinics are being held in preparation for tryouts in the spring.