Congratulations to the varsity dance team who won the Division 4 State Champion title during the Missouri Dance Team Association (MDTA) State Championships held at the Family Arena on February 24! They achieved this recognition after earning First Place in both the Division 4 Pom and Mix performances.
Ursuline competed against 16 teams in Division 4 with each team selecting two classifications to perform. UA’s poms routine earned 281.5 points out 300 possible—5.5 points ahead of the second-place team. Poms is a style with strong visible use of pom pons throughout at least 80% of the routine and a strong emphasis on precision and transitions.
Their mix routine earned 277.5 points out 300 possible—3 points ahead of the second-place team. A mix routine incorporates a minimum of three styles of dance, two of which must be kick and pom. The third element may include one or more selected from precision jazz, lyrical jazz or hip hop. Poms must be used during the pom portion and a minimum of 12 team kicks (waist-high and above) must be executed. Ursuline elected to precision jazz as their third component and also included a return to poms at the close of the routine.
The scores from the individual classifications are combined to determine the overall score. Ursuline’s point total was 7 points more than the two teams who tied for second place.
Varsity dance team members are Kaylee Bauman ’20, Frannie Benoist ’21, Sarah Gravette ’18, Katie Horack ’19, Katherine Kuchem ’18, Sophie Laposha ’19, Ashley Liberto ’19, Anna Powell ’19, Brooke Schwartz ’18, Ashley Stephan ’18, Allison Walsh ’19, Brooke Westcott ’20, Cara Westcott ’18 and Jessica Woodward ’18.
The MDTA Solo Competition was held the evening of February 23 with Cara Westcott ’18 and Katherine Kuchem ’18 performing. Cara earned 6th Place Senior Solo with Katherine earning 15th Place Senior Solo.
Several dancers also earned Academic All State recognition for maintaining a grade point average of 3.5 or greater. These students are Katie Horack ’19, Sophie Laposha ’19, Ashley Liberto ’19, Anna Powell ’19, Brooke Schwartz ’18, Ashley Stephan ’18, Allison Walsh ’19, Brooke Westcott ’20 and Cara Westcott ’18.