Health & Fitness
Nationally-recognized Ike dance team to be featured on ESPN
Varsity dance team has placed third nationally for four straight years
For the fourth straight year, the Eisenhower High School Varsity Dance Team earned the third place trophy at the National Dance Team Championship.
The Universal Dance Association sponsored the competition, which took place over the weekend of February 4 and 5 at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. It is the only national championship of its kind.
The Eisenhower team is scheduled to be featured on the ESPNU channel this Sunday, March 11 at 11:30 a.m.
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This particular group has been together since last spring, practicing Sunday through Thursday every week.
Team members include Chantal Nightingale, Miranda Blankenburg, Carly Backhus, Katie Droope, Ciara Cassani, Mackenzie Schaffer, Jessica Desano, Jenna Kwasny, Sydney Oprita, Kendall Crudo, Lilly Smiscik, Ashley Fenn, Nicole Haist, Alex Vizzaccaro, Rebecca Wright and Samantha Droope. They are coached by Eppler Junior High School teacher Rachelle Anthony.
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Anthony has coached the Eisenhower team for six years. She said the dance team program takes pride in teaching the students dedication, teamwork and determination – skills they will need in the classroom and in the future.
She added, “This team has pushed me to become a better person, teacher and coach. Even though I constantly try to teach them to be better athletes and people, they have taught me to do the same. I am so proud of the young women they have become.”
A panel of 20 judges from across the county scored the national competition based on technique, skills, choreography and precision.
Fittingly enough, the Eagle dance team’s motto this year is “Take a Chance.” That theme brought them luck at the nationals, where they performed to the song “Chances” by the rock band Five for Fighting.
The students helped finance their Florida trip with car washes and youth dance clinics. For their service project, they also held a successful t-shirt sale with the proceeds going to fight breast cancer.
The competitive dance season runs eleven months a year, April to March. In addition to performing at Friday games, the team also competed in regional events in Michigan and Chicago before the national contest in Florida. This year, they also won the best choreography award at the Universal Dance Association regional in Michigan.
