UCS dance teams shine at nationals in Florida

SHELBY TOWNSHIP/UTICA/STERLING HEIGHTS — Following a successful dance season for Eisenhower High School, Stevenson-Ford United and Utica High School, all three teams were spotlighted on national stages in Orlando, Florida.

While the team dynamic was different for the squads, each team shined at nationals.

 

Eisenhower
A prestigious dance team in the state of Michigan, Eisenhower had another impressive showing when it mattered most.

From Feb. 3 to 5 at the ESPN Center in Orlando, Eisenhower competed at the Universal Dance Association National Dance Team Championship, competing against teams all across the country.

At the varsity level, Eisenhower took first in hip-hop and second in jazz, bringing the school’s championship total to 12 in its successful history.

The junior varsity team earned fourth in pom and fifth in jazz, while the junior high level tallied third in jazz and fifth in pom.

“We’re so proud of them,” Eisenhower coach Maria Chodnicki said. “Four out of five of our coaches are Eisenhower alumni, so it was great to be back as coaches this year from being alumni of the program. Just to give back — we love this program. It’s changed our lives in the most positive way.”

A first-year coach at Eisenhower after dancing at Michigan State University, Chodnicki danced all four years at Eisenhower.

Transitioning to a new coach and graduating seniors, Eisenhower dance overcame the adversity to bring home the hardware.

Chodnicki said the team’s confidence was a key factor this season.

“I’d say our strength was probably focusing on ourselves,” Chodnicki said. “I think we all knew it was going to be a big challenge, and we all had really huge shoes to fill, but our strength was not comparing ourselves to anyone else but what was best for ourselves and our team to help them succeed.”

The three dance levels competed at three meets this season with varsity claiming first place at each competition. Junior varsity and junior high both earned top-three finishes at every competition this season, qualifying their routines for nationals.

Chodnicki said the team understands the distinguished history of Eisenhower dance, and that history only encourages the team members to be a part of that success.

“All of our alumni support us,” Chodnicki said. “They come to our competitions, our send-offs, and they pop into our practices. A lot of them are on prestigious college programs, so our girls and our team are very inspired by them and look up to them for motivation.”

 

Varsity dancers: Zoey Azar, Skylar Bakun, Gabrielle Champa, Catherine Cieslak, Ava DiLisio, Abigail French, Lily Giacobbe, Peyton Holman, Alexa Kurlinski, Georgia Mielke, Ivana Petrevski, Vittoria Piccinini, Mia Roll, Jordan Temple, Mia Wrobel.

JV dancers: Avery Arche, Keira Auto, Kaitlynn Becker, Aubrey Bowen, Lydia Cocco, Josie Gianino, Elmarisa Hayden, Mia Laino, Olivia Opalewski, Savannah Sedmak, Ava Sherman, Ava Sinishtaj, Nolan Smith, Isabella Stoia, Alexandra Wood.

Junior high dancers: Ella Bemis, Ella Clay, Lena D’Annunzio, Maya Fuca, Cesarina Gasperoni, Sophie Gibson, Ava Hayden, Fiona Manzo, Elise Ronne, Audrey Soloman, Isabella Tabacchi, Addison White.

Coaches: Maria Chodnicki, Cristina D’Aristotile, Emily Goy, Sophia Carlesimo, Gabriella Gasperoni.

 

Stevenson-Ford United
Competing for the first time as a united team, Stevenson-Ford United had a different set of obstacles than Eisenhower faced this season.

The once rivals became teammates, but it didn’t happen overnight.

“At first, it was a little rough because we’re rivals,” Stevenson-Ford coach Kristina Robinson said. “They were used to competing against each other. Over the summer, there were some bumps for sure. As we continued to work together over the summer, they started to form close bonds.”

By the end of the season, the varsity team looked like a well-oiled machine on the dance floor.

At the Dance Team Union National Championships in Orlando, Stevenson-Ford United took third in pom, sixth in game day routine and 13th in jazz.

After struggling in its first regional matchup, the team continued to progress, eventually earning first in pom and game day at the second regional meet at Henry Ford II High School, and the team capped off the regional season with a first-place finish in pom at Dakota High School.

Robinson was especially proud of two things that she saw from the team.

“I personally feel as their coach that they persevered through a lot, especially after combining, and just their growth,” Robinson said.

With only a varsity program right now, Stevenson-Ford United will have to regroup and see if Ford’s numbers continue to stay low enough to keep the ladies as a united team.

If so, there are big plans for Stevenson-Ford United for junior varsity and junior high teams.

“That’s our plan moving forward,” Robinson said. “If we end up staying together, we’ll look to expand towards a JV and junior high.”

Varsity dancers: Peyton Ng (Stevenson), Ava Zygner (Ford), Ashley Kniola (Stevenson), Haley Noechel (Stevenson), Chloe Griffith (Stevenson), Kaitlyn Tilotti (Ford), Savannah Markowski (Stevenson), Morgan Glick (Ford), Maya Pawlenko (Stevenson), Addison King (Stevenson), Mikaela Espinoza (Stevenson), Marina Jones (Stevenson), Haley Robb (Ford), Ava Wingfield (Stevenson), Chloe Navaroli (Ford), Ashlyn LeRoux (Stevenson).

Coaches: Kristina Robinson, Ashley Kibzey, Alyssa Kneebone.

 

Utica
Like rival Eisenhower, Utica High School competed at the Universal Dance Association National Dance Team Championship from Feb. 3 to 5 at the ESPN Center in Orlando.

Continuing the success of Utica Community Schools dance teams, Utica’s varsity team placed eighth in the nation from a field of 88 teams with its pom dance routine.

Utica co-head coach Kaitlyn Venglar noted the team’s strong bond as a key factor in its success.

“We always preach performing with intention with each other and for each other, and I believe this mantra allowed us to earn a top 10 spot in the small varsity category,” Venglar said in a press release.

As for the junior varsity squad, it also secured an eighth-place finish with a strong jazz routine.

Expect Utica to bring another strong showing to the table next year.

Utica dancers: Cybelle Abdel-Nour, Riley Coughlin, Kiera Curran, Lily Dishman, Natalie Frazier, Bianca Kobylecki, Dea Kurtaj, Nicole LaVoy, Alisa Muirhead, Julia Verellen, Melanie Williams.