Lancer Dancers Perform at Their Nationals Send-Off

The Lancer Dancers showcased their nationals jazz and hip-hop dances yesterday at the last local performance before National Dance Alliance (NDA) nationals in Orlando this weekend. The team organized the “send-off” as a final practice to show their finalized dances to family and friends.

“I know everyone is so tired, but the work is paying off,” Alexis Close, the team’s coach, said. “And I really feel like the girls are going to peak at just the right time.”

The team will compete in the preliminary round of competition on Saturday. If the Lancer Dancers perform with a high enough score to make top eight in jazz and top 12 in hip-hop, they will compete in finals on the 28th. Last year, the team placed second in the Large Varsity Jazz category and sixth in Large Varsity Hip-Hop. This year, the team is striving to place top three for their jazz routine and top five, hip-hop.

“We have worked super hard as a whole team this year in our preparation for nationals,” senior captain Brooke Erickson said. “I’m confident in the team and the motivation and dedication of every single person.”

The girls have been working down to the final week on perfecting each dance and preparing themselves for tough competition. With 7:00 a.m. rehearsals every morning since the fall and additional after school practices, the team is ready to take on the nationals stage.

“I think if we continue on this path, there will be no stopping us for this weekend,” Close said. “They deserve to be proud and they are already champions in my eyes.”