This time of year is busy for Lakeland High School students. With finals and Battle for the Paddle approaching, there is a lot of work to be done.
For LHS dancers, this is also the time to put the pedal to the metal and work on doing as well as possible to prepare for districts.
Over the weekend, the dance team went to Moscow to participate in the University of Idaho’s Winter Spirit Competition.
They placed first in each of their group dances and received the Grand Champion award.
Additionally, in the solo division, Claire Kelley received first place and the Ms. Vandal Gem Challenge award. Aly Caywood received second place, and Emma Marshall got third.
In the duo category, Lily Still and Rowan McKinzie placed first, and Kambree Mareel and Leeann Lohf placed second.
“I think we performed well, and I’m excited to see where the rest of this season takes us,” freshman Rowan McKinzie said.
The U of I Spirit competition was the dance team’s last competition of the season leading up to districts.
During the five weeks leading up to the district competition, the team plans to work on cleaning the small details in their routines to make them as perfect as possible for the district competition.
“We are going to listen to the voiceovers, look at all comments, positive and negative, from all comps, and clean the routines because we are down to details,” coach Laura Kelley said.
Dance is a technique-heavy sport, and small details can make the difference between first and second place. Details such as angles and timing are essential in a winning routine.
“The judges commented on cleaning the minor details such as chin and arm placement,” Kelley said. “We can use this feedback to make the routines as perfect as possible.”
Moving forward, the dance team is in the last period before districts and will work on improving as much as they can between now and February 3.
Let’s see where the rest of this season takes them.
