Pine-Richland Dance Team Earns Accolades at SRU Competition

Information and photo submitted by the Pine-Richland School District

The school year hasn’t even begun, but the 2013-2014 Pine-Richland High School Dance Team already is collecting accolades.

Fifteen girls attended the Universal Dance Association Summer Camp at Slippery Rock University July 6-9 and took home several awards.

Dance Team Coach Kathy Deal said the team learned innovative choreography, attended daily technique classes, participated in team building activities and competed against other dance teams at this year’s camp.  

They received the following awards:

• The Dance Team received a blue ribbon for their Home Team Dance routine.  Blue ribbons are the highest honor and signify a superior rating.
• Seniors Payton Novitski, Maddie Stauffer, Alexis Loiselle and Bethany Stokoski all received “UDA All-American Awards” for their excellence in the All-American Dance Competition. They are invited to perform in the London New Year’s Day Parade and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
• The team received a spirit stick every night of camp and were awarded the “Super Spirit Stick” on the last day of camp for their energy and enthusiasm. This was awarded to the team from another participating dance team.
• They received first place for their Home Routine performance and a superior rating and blue ribbon.  
• The team received the first place trophy in the overall Drill Down Competition, receiving the most blue ribbons throughout this daily event at camp.  These drills are a test of discipline and memory. 
• Alexis Loiselle placed first in the individual drill down competition where she received the Drill Down Queen Award (for the second year in a row – a UDA record!). Natalie Gates placed second overall in this competition.
• The team was awarded the Dance Team Leadership trophy presented by the UDA staff and voted on by the participating dance teams.
• The team received a Superior UDA trophy for their performance all week at camp in the various routines taught. This qualifies the team to participate in the UDA National Competition in Orlando, Florida in February 2014.

Dance teams from Pennsylvania, New York, and West Virginia competed at the camp. 

Participants also took part in the UDA fundraiser to support the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Want to congratulate the dance team on their awards? Tell us in the comment section below.