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Dance Team NVL’s: Silver is the New Gold

Nerves were high leading up the third annual Dance NVL competition hosted here at Woodland on Wednesday, February 8. Not only was it hosted at home, but an injury on the team led to last minute changes to the two scheduled dances a week before the competition, leaving everyone, including Senior Captain, Vanessa Adams, concerned for the success of the team.

“We had to change the dances the week before and it was our first time performing our ‘new routine.’ I didn’t know what to expect,” shares Adams.

Head Coach, Marissa DeCola, reciprocated with calling extra practices in the weeks leading up to competition. Adams explains it was difficult to schedule the additional practices with the team being involved with other extracurriculars, work, etc, however through the dedication the girls had to being successful in the competition sacrifices were made and further time was put in.

Going into the competition the team was most anxious about facing rival, Wolcott, who had taken first in the last two competitions. Nevertheless the girls had a goal and were focused on reaching it.

The Woodland Dance Team competes in both Jazz and Kick. Scoring is done separately for two dances in a range of genres and the awards are given out based on the sum of the two scores. The team chose a dramatic jazz song to raise attention from the judges with their piece to Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Lorde. For kick, typically the team’s strong suit, the girls impressed with their number to E.T Remix by Katy Perry. Combined the girls scored a grand total of 530.9 points. Not only was it the highest the team had scored personally throughout the competition season, but the score was the highest Woodland had scored in NVL history.

Although the girls didn’t necessarily meet the goal they set of beating Wolcott who scored a total of 536.2, less than six points higher, the team had accomplished goals they had yet planned to set and left with a more personal success.

Adams shares her thoughts on the competition and what is to come of the Dance Team in future competitions.

“I am so happy with the results and I could not be more proud of how hard these girls worked,” explains Adams. “I’ve seen how much dedication the girls have put into this team and I know it can only get better.”

Being the only senior, Adams had more weight on her shoulders than the others on her team and felt more pressure to do well in the competition. Not only was she happy with the results of the competition but her strong leadership led to her being chosen as the Top Senior in the NVL by the league’s Head Coaches.

“It was very unexpected and amazing for me,” comments Adams. “Seeing what my coach wrote and believed about me and knowing other coaches thought I deserved the award really boosted my confidence in my dancing and as a person.”

With Adams being the only senior graduating this year the team will be led by juniors, Sarah Rioux and Brittney Casson in the 2017-18 season. The 2017 NVL Competition proved that Woodland should keep their eye on the dance team as they continue to progress and succeed in years to come.

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Julia is our Executive Yearbook Designer and Photographer, and she has spent four full semesters at Hawk Headlines. She loves her dogs, Missy and Champ, and sometimes goes by the alter ego "Culia Jaruso".

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