BY RACHEL GALATIS
After months of hours-long practices, team-bonding activities, and traveling to competitions, the Stonehill College Dance Team placed in the top five for all their routines at the College Classic National Invitational.
“We performed three routines in the styles Pom, Hip Hop, and Jazz and worked so hard all season to compete at the highest level that SCDT has brought to the national's stage,” senior captain, Lauren Goode said.
The competition took place April 9-10 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Both the “Pom” and “Hip-Hop” routines placed third overall, while Jazz placed fourth. Kaili Guyer placed second as “Ace the Skyhawk” in the mascot competition.
The team has been working on the pom routine for the past three years, as it was supposed to be performed during 2019-2020 season but was canceled due to COVID-19 circumstances.
Goode, said that ending her final season with the team achieving their goals was “incredible.”
“This was absolutely the best way I could have imagined ending my time with this team,” she said. “It was an incredible “last” national's experience for all of us seniors and “first '' for the rest of the girls on the team, which made it special for everyone.”
The wins came after the team struggled with travel mishaps. Although they were supposed to fly to Orlando Thursday night, they had to catch a flight on Friday due to cancellations. They arrived in Orlando at 3 a.m. on Saturday morning, just hours before they took the stage at 10 a.m.
Megan Vanelli, a sophomore, said that no matter what goals you are working toward, there are always going to be unexpected elements that come with the situation.
“Adversity is our strong suit, and we’ve grown to not even wince at unexpected events throughout the preparation process,” she said.
Since they did not have to leave for the airport until later in the afternoon on Friday, the team was able to use the morning to practice.
Savannah Tobin, a junior, said that stress of situations like this help to strengthen team dynamic and push them to work harder.
“We, as a team persevered through all the hardships that were thrown at us and realized how well we work under pressure,” Tobin said.
The competition was divided into two days, with the preliminary portion on Saturday and the “finals” portion on Sunday. Winners were announced on Sunday during an awards ceremony.
Tobin said that getting to compete at nationals after waiting for two years made the experience that much more special for the team.
“There is no better feeling than going out there and getting the adrenaline rush filled with nerves and excitement,” she said. “We all hyped each other up, believed in one another, and took a few deep breaths before we walked out there with confidence and shared the stage for one last time together.”
Over the course of the next couple of months, the team will focus on strength and conditioning, as well as recruiting new members for the upcoming season. They are scheduled to host a “dance clinic” for high school students on April 30.
Vanelli said that auditions will be held in June and the 2022-2023 roster will be sent out soon after.
“Once the roster is announced, expectations will be set by our leadership team as far as what we should we working individually on throughout break (such as tricks and turns) until our preseason begins and we come together as a team for the first time in the late summer,” she said.
Photo courtesy of the Stonehill Dance Team Instagram.