Provided by Rachelle Haun

Harker Dance Company and Kinetic Krew posed with their trophies. They won 5 trophies in total.

Harker Dance Company (HDC) and Kinetic Krew (KK) performed at the Universal Dance Association Celebration of the Stars dance competition and earned five top-three trophies at Abraham Lincoln High School on Feb. 14. 

The dance team formed a total of 11 routines, including six group dances, four solos and one duet. Harker Dance Company fielded four routines in the categories of extra small dance, small jazz, small contemporary, and junior varsity dance. Kinetic Krew competed in character and prop. There were also mixed routines with members from both teams. Harker received first place in musical theater, prop and junior varsity dance and won third for small contemporary and extra small contemporary. 

Both teams also showcased some dances they have been working on since the start of the school year and performed during previous shows, like Harker Day and Dance Production. 

HDC co-captain Aurelia Spura (11) noted how the atmosphere of a competition differed from dances the team formally performs at school events. 

“It’s really nice to have an audience of people who we don’t know, and when you hear them cheer for different parts of your dance, you know that all the rehearsals were worth it,” Aurelia said. It’s just so much fun performing with my friends”

In addition to group dances, this was the first year dance team members competed solo routines. Any dance team member could perform a solo, either self-choreographed or from an outside studio. Sophomore KK member Kayvion Cruz appreciated the opportunity to develop as both a dancer and choreographer by performing a self-choreographed hiphop solo.

“It’s my first time ever choreographing a solo and performing one in front of people, so of course I was nervous,” Kayvion said. “But it was just so fun being able to show my choreography to other people and I loved how supportive everyone was after.”

The day before the competition, all dance team members gathered on campus to rehearse and create posters for each other. During each performance, teammates filled the audience and cheered for each other from the stands.

HDC adviser Jill Yager emphasized that the teams’ collective effort, from making posters to attending lunchtime rehearsals, reflects how competitions foster encouragement and collaboration among dancers.

“If one team or one group was performing, everybody else would be in the audience to support them,” Yager said. “I love seeing that camaraderie, and then ultimately, seeing them all dance together. Even if mistakes were made, they pushed forward and kept going together. They represented us really well.”

Before the award ceremony, attendees participated in the drill down, a follow-the-command elimination game. Universal Dance Association, who organized the event, originally consisted of drill teams that performed military exercises, and that tradition has carried on into every dance competition. 

“We didn’t have that much experience doing the drill, but we decided to try it out [as a team],” Aurelia said. “It ended up being really fun, even though there were some instructions that we had no clue about. All of us are prepared to do a little homework and practice some more before the next competition.”

Last year, Harker attended a high school dance competition also hosted by the Universal Dance Company for the first time in school history, only fielding two routines and winning first and third place. Yager emphasized the value of this year’s expanded participation, noting the unique learning opportunities dancers gain from attending events like these.

“When you’re in a space with hundreds of other people that feel the same way that you do about your passion, there’s a great deal of value in that,” Yager said “It’s the opportunity to do your best, put your best foot forward, to share this experience with your teammates, to be challenged, and then to continue to get better.”