On Saturday, February 27, the Highlands High School (HHS) dance team competed in the 29th Annual Seton Invitational dance competition. After hours of competing against talented opponents and waiting hours for results, the Birds placed first. 

     Senior Kayla Bolling and the rest of the team felt confident about their performance, but nervous when waiting for the result, as their competition was so intense. However, when they found out they’d won, they knew they deserved it. 

Bolling said, “I was really excited that our hard work had paid off. I was also surprised, because we’d never beaten Floyd Central High School before. 

     The dance team experienced a few setbacks this season since COVID-19 has been such a prominent issue throughout 2020 and now 2021. Since there were multiple dancers out due to quarantine or other personal reasons, major changes had to be made to dance routines. In fact, in the week before their first competition, they had to redo the formations twice. 

     However, this did bring the team closer together and made them more aware as dancers. 

     Junior Lucy New expressed, “This year has definitely emphasised how much work we have put in.” 

The dance team has an intense practice schedule. They practice twice a week for three hours usually, but in the past week, they practiced for at least three hours every day. 

    In their two competitions this season, the dance team has demonstrated how much time and effort they’ve dedicated to their sport, as they’ve won both: Jamfest Super Nationals and the 29th Annual Seton Invitational

     The dance team will continue their strict practice regimen to prepare for their future competitions. They plan to have three, Regionals, State, and The Crown, but dates have not yet been determined.