Utica Community Schools issued the following announcement on Feb 14.
The National Dance Team Championships are held annually and invite dance teams from high schools around the country to compete against one another.
Held at the Walt Disney World Resort, dancers from all four UCS high schools made the journey to Florida to compete against the country’s best varsity dance team programs.
“It’s really great to be able to take a group of young athletes down to Florida to see them shine, in what I’d say, is the hardest national dance competition in the country,” said Ashley Kibzey, head coach of Henry Ford II’s varsity dance team.
Stevenson varsity dance team coach, Kristina Robinson, shared that competing in national events such as this one is important because it pushes the dancers to strive to be better each day.
“It provides them with a positive competitive environment and exposure to continuing their dancing careers beyond high school,” Robinson said.
Retiring from coaching after 16 years, Eisenhower dance team’s head coach, Rachelle Kiehle said the experience was an amazing way to conclude her coaching journey.
“This event allows teams to compete against the very best in the country,” Kiehle said. “There is so much talent and sportsmanship on display.”
Competing against between 40-80 teams depending on their division, each dance team went through prelims to then qualify for semi-finals and again for finals, with only half of the competing teams qualifying in each round.
Each team, their families and their coaches had to sacrifice so much time and energy to make the journey to nationals. This dedication is something Utica varsity dance team coach, Katie Venglar, highlighted.
“Coach Carly Fix and I cannot put into words how proud we are of the radiant performances the dancers put on stage.”
“We take great pride in representing Utica High School and Utica Community Schools in Orlando, FL.”
2022 National Championships Results:
Eisenhower High School: 1st place Large Varsity Hip Hop, 2nd place Large Varsity Jazz
Henry Ford II High School: Competed in the prelim round for Small Varsity Pom and Small Varsity Jazz
Stevenson High School: 14th place in Medium Varsity Pom, competed in prelim round for Medium Varsity Jazz
Utica High School: 7th place Small Varsity Jazz and 10th place Small Varsity Pom
Original source can be found here.
Source: Utica Community Schools
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