Honoring Dr King

One of the things that makes our team so great is our vast diversity.  We have kids of different races, nationalities and cultures all working together toward a common goal.  Dr Martian Luther King’s dream was to see people working through their differences in harmony, so that’s why we feel it so important to honor him at this year’s MLK assembly.  Our team performed a jazz/hip-hop fusion routine on at an event celebrating unity through diversity, and I must say we did mighty fine!  Thank you Dr King for sharing your dream and starting a movement that changed our nation for the better.

UDA Nationals 2012

We woke bright and early on Friday morning to head to the airport to leave for the National Dance Team Championship (NDTC) in Orlando, FL!  Everyone was excited to be on our way to the most prestigious dance team competition in the world!

As we flew free to the sunny Florida sun, it was exhilarating and nerve racking.  We were bringing a different routine than we had ever seen before.  Would a Frank Sinatra Hip hop fusion routine be loved or hated? We were willing to take the risk for a dream we believed in.

As we arrived, imagine our surprise as we see our last years routine featured on the UDA welcome banner!

It must be a good omen!  We ate, practice and hit the sack to prepare for the biggest day of the season.

The next day was full of practice, hairspray, and nerves.  As we began to make the track to the stadium to put our work, sweat and tears on the floor, I couldn’t help but be so proud of all this team had accomplished.  Though tremendous diversity and adversity, they had never given up their creative dream of making it to this moment.

When we performed on that stage, I have never been more proud of such a well executed performance.  This team performed to the absolute best of their ability!  It was a true accomplishment to have such a stellar performance for us and I was overjoyed at their effort.

Unfortunately, this year’s trip to nationals was a sobering and humbling occasion. We did not advance to the finals as we had hoped we would and the judges were not a fan of our creative vision.  But in this world, not everyone’s opinions always agree.  And we choose to compete here, with the best of the best, and run the risk that those judges just might not have the same idea of what is deserving of reward.  It’s ok, we are still proud of the performance we put on that floor.  And I am in awe of the decorum and sportsmanship that these kids showed in the face of yet one more setback.  They held their heads high, were accepting of the differences of opinions, and immediately began putting together ideas on what they could do to improve next year.

We are going to listen to the critiques we received.  We are making the changes we see we need to make.  And we will be back next year with a vengeance!  TH in 2013…Watch Out!

Nationals Bound!

The last performance before Nathan Hale Varisty Dance heads out to UDA Nationals in Orlando, FL!