In preparation for State Cheer and Dance later this month, the Tigerettes competed at the Centura High School Dance Invite in Cairo, NE placing second in both of their entered categories. Schools from various parts of Nebraska traveled to the competition to show off their Jazz, Pom, Hip Hop, and High Kick routines.
“Watching and competing against new teams was a great experience. The differences in the other team’s choreography was very cool to watch even though it was nerve-wracking,” freshman Emily Struss said.
The Tigerettes performed both of their state routines, first in the pom division and their second in the hip hop division, both of which were performed at home basketball games.
“I enjoyed dancing at Centura more than dancing at basketball games because the audience is more into the dance and they are more supportive. It makes it so performing is more fun and easier to get into,” junior Brianna Dulitz said.
Centura was organized by cycles. Each team had their turn to get ready in the provided locker rooms and do extra practicing in the hallways. At scheduled times, the teams would practice in a different gym to put together their finishing touches. After practice, the teams would line up at the entrance to the main gym and watch the performing team.
“It was interesting, but it made you think about how you could look compared to them,” Struss said.
After all of the teams danced, all of the dancers were asked to sit on the gym floor and await the judge’s final say and placements. As they waited, the teams danced and smiled at the nerves that were lifted off of their shoulders and the excitement that replaced it.
“It was kind of fun just to watch the faces of other teammates and other schools just to see how they reacted,” Dulitz said.
The teams were scored on an assortment of things.
“Execution and difficulty of skills, communication with audience and projection, creativity, synchronization and a category for “overall effect” to summarize. We scored very well with a 34/40 in both Hip Hop and Pom,” Coach Meagan Stoner said.
The A and B teams competed and were placed together and the same went for the C and D teams. Although all of the teams were scored and placed, only first and second place teams received trophies. The Tigerettes competed in the A/B section placing second in the Pom category under the Columbus Diamonds and second under the Grand Island Northwest Dance Team in the Hip Hop section.
“Not a single drop of disappointment! Our competition dances have come so far and they will be even better in two weeks,” Stoner said. “We beat an A division school in Hip Hop and I think the whole team will agree that we will take that any year!”
With two new trophies in hand, the Tigerettes celebrated. Although they weren’t first place trophies, the team was still immensely proud of their hard work.
“I am very proud of our team no matter the outcome. I would have been proud even if we received last place. To me, it doesn’t matter if we win or lose it’s about us going out there and doing what we love and showing off our own skills. I am proud of everyone on our team for doing the best they could,” Dulitz said.
The Tigerettes and many other dance teams in Nebraska will be competing at the state competition on February 17 at the Heartland Events Center in Grand Island.
