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ENJOYING THE FLORIDA SUN: 2022-23 Dexter Varsity Dance Team enjoying the Florida sun after Gameday finals performance.
The Dexter Dreadnaughts perform each year in the beginning of February at UDA Nationals in Orlando, Florida. Every year the dance team failed to make it to the final round… until this year
WRITTEN BY JENNA LENKOWSKI
For the Dexter Varsity Dance Team, February 4, 2023 is a day the athletes will never forget. They made history.
The team headed to Orlando, Florida earlier in the week to perform at the National Dance Team Championship. These 13 girls made it to finals for two out of three of their dances – Jazz and Gameday. The team finished in 10th place out of 50 teams in the Medium Varsity Gameday category and 13th place out of 45 teams in the Medium Varsity Jazz category.
Hundreds of teams perform at the Championship every year. The categories are difficult and the teams that make it to finals are the best of the best. In past years, the Dexter Varsity Dance Team has never made it past semis, the second round of the Dance Team National Championship.
How was this year’s nationals different from every other year?
“It was different because we were much more confident this year and we actually achieved our goals,” said senior Julia Kirkey, a four-year member of the dance team.
Team members stated that the environment has changed so much from previous years. That included new coaches, new members, and new dances.
One of those new dances was in the jazz category.
“Going off after jazz semis [was the proudest moment] because before we went on, we were all nervous since we had just made last-minute changes and thought we wouldn’t advance,” sophomore Ruby Boynton said. “But, we were so proud of our performance and in previous years we never had that feeling. We were confident and we knew we just left everything out on the floor.”
TEAM CELEBRATION: (Midde Black Costume) Dexter Dance Team celebrating after jazz awards on the finals floor.
The Dexter Dance Team put in lots of time and dedicated effort to get to where they are today.
“Something that changed from last year to this year was the confidence level,” freshman Ainslie Ramsburgh said. “It skyrocketed after semis and we were able to leave everything out on the floor. Nothing compares to that feeling, it’s unmatched.”
As a group, the team believes that they left everything out on the dance floor and are proud of their performances. Their confident demeanor allowed them to take what they went for. In the end, that allowed the Dexter Varsity Dance Team to make history.
