By Peyton Dickerson, Staff Writer
Stage lights illuminate the room, the announcer’s booming voice echoes, the audience cheers excitedly. Behind the stage wings stand nervous dancers waiting to perform. The name of the dance is called and the loud claps of the crowd spark a rush of adrenaline. One wrong move could be detrimental to the performance, but the negative thoughts are hastily brushed off as they make their way into the spotlight.
For a competition dancer, this is the average setting before a performance. Yet, the excitement and nerves are only a small part of the process.
Atlantic Dance and Island School of Dance are just a couple of the many local studios that have a separate competition team. However, the difference between an average dance class and a competition practice is substantial.
Atlantic Dance’s practices are held on Fridays and Saturdays, and Island School of Dance’s are held on Mondays. The rigorous practice schedule is hard work for the dancers, but it’s a key element to becoming competition-ready.
“I love how (the dancers) come in and spend so many hours a week from September to March, working so hard to an end goal,” choreographer and owner of Atlantic Dance, Mila Smith said.
Many of the girls who are part of the teams have been dancing since they were little. Senior Julia Bachman has been a part of Atlantic Dance since age 3, then proceeded to join competition in the eighth grade.
“All of us on the competition team have come a long way in these four or five years,” Bachman said. “All of us have grown really close.”
The studios attend three competitions a year. However, they are usually the smallest studios at the events, which makes it a challenge for the dancers. For Island School of Dance, their competition team has only been around for a short time.
“Our team is fairly new. This is our third year,” senior Juli Paris said. “Last year it was only me and my dance partner.”
Despite the competitive atmosphere, the dancers always find joy in spending time with each other off stage and while traveling to competitions.
“Before we go on stage we give each other pep talks,” Paris said. “That’s probably one of the best parts of competition, being so close with your team.”
The teams take on many different styles of dance. Atlantic is known for its peppy tap and energetic jazz numbers, while Island School of Dance tends to focus more on heartfelt lyrical and contemporary pieces.
“Tap is my favorite because it is very technical,” senior Cassidy Joyce said. “I really enjoy challenging myself to learn new steps.”
For the girls, dance is much more than perfecting moves. It’s about bonding with teammates. Senior Sara Parsons has particularly grown a strong bond over time with her team at Island School of Dance.
“When I’m dancing with (my team), it’s like I’m dancing with a family,” Parsons said.
Despite the desire to win, the dancers want to focus more on achieving personal goals, especially the seniors who are enjoying these last few dances with their teammates.
“I’m definitely sad about leaving,” Parsons said. “I’m going to miss the jokes that we’ve had and the time we’ve spent together.”
On March 30, both teams will be competing in the StarLand competition at FFHS. During the competition, dancers will show off all of the effort and technique they’ve put into their dances throughout the year, but most importantly, bask in the special moments that they share together.
Sophomore Peyton Dickerson can be reached at 21dickersonpe28@daretolearn.org
