The NDB InStep Competition team competed in their first and only competition of the season. Including members of the InStep dance class, the team has been working and perfecting several routines throughout the year to compete at Showstoppers in March. Members from the class voluntarily joined the team, deciding that they would be interested in competing routines that they work on in class. The team is made up of four senior athletes from NDB.

They performed a contemporary duet, tap solo, lyrical solo, and a jazz group routine. All dances were entered to compete at the competitive level, which is the most advanced level offered at Showstoppers. The team competed on the weekend of March 10-12 in San Francisco, which is one of the many areas Showstoppers is holding a competition, as they are touring the nation.

The team took home first overall in their category for the senior advanced group jazz routine. Georgia Blaney scored third overall for her advanced lyrical solo, Ava Marinos scored first overall for her advanced tap solo, and Delaney Sprague and Charlotte Stogner’s both placed second overall for their contemporary duet.

The team has been consistently rehearsing, utilizing collaboration periods, after-school hours and lunch to perfect the routines. Since this was the team’s only competition of the season, the group really wanted to make it count. All of the dancers on the team have competed on other dance teams in the past, but many returned due to the casual-feel that the team provides.

“I am feeling pretty good about this competition, but we still have a lot of work to do,” senior Georgia Blaney shared before competing. “I decided to do the team again for the off-campus experience and getting the opportunity to hang out with my team and peers.”

Members of the InStep competition agree that the laid-back nature of the team is a big reason why the seniors on the team returned to it. The small team, being all seniors, have formed close bonds with each other through the many hours put into their sport.

“Competition is really fun because of the friendships I have in InStep class,” stated senior Charlotte Stogner. “I have done dance competitions in the past and they have not been as enjoyable as the InStep Competition Team has. The last competition we did was a lot more enjoyable and was a less-stressful environment.”

As the team geared up for their competition, they continued to work day in and day out leading up to the big weekend. The team, full of experienced dancers, return to the team to compete in their last high school dance competition through InStep. The team ended the season on a high note, as they took home first in their advanced competition division.