On Saturday, February 21st, the SD Dance Team went to Chino Hills High School to compete in the annual “WCE Regionals” showcasing their solos and team dances, as they competed against some of the best teams in the region; moreover, securingtheir spot for the upcoming WCE nationals.
This exciting but long competition started as early as 6am for some soloists. First was all the Freshman, Jessica Ray, Emily Garcia, Alina Espinosa, Francesca Ramirez, Aubrey Perez, Vivianna Reynoso, and Aria Molina. Then were Sophomores, Janiya Jones, Shannon Thammakumpee, Anissa Ghomeshi, and Bryce Andrews. Next was Juniors, Camila Martinez, Isabella Leon, and Natalia Alcantar. Lastly was the Seniors, Victoria Contreras, Mia Guerrero, Farrah Carrey, Jessica Liu, then Sami Alexander. All these soloists did amazing, and the coaches couldn’t have been more proud of how well they represented SDHS. Victoria Contreras (12th) ended up getting 18th out of 30, and being the only SD dancer that qualified for senior gold solo category for the upcoming WCE Nationals. The team and coaches couldnt have been more proud of her.
After all the solos went at 12, the rest of the dance team showed up. The dancers had a small break before they had to change for Varsity Pom. This break was spent either at the team trailer, where the girls were able to eat and rest, or spent in the locker room chilling before the upcoming dance. Thanks to the parents for the tailgate that set a positive mindset for the girls for the upcoming afternoon.
As the girls got ready for Varsity pom, the whole team made their way to the warm-up room to start stretching. Little did they know this day would be one of the busiest comps of the season. This routine was not only fast and super complex, but there were lots of formation changes and moves they had to remember. As they went out on stage, Coach Brooke was quite worried for some very complex parts of the dance, however, once again the girls proved themselves, and showed how hard they worked all season.
Next, the Varsity Trio featuring Farrah Carrey, Victoria Contreras, and Mia Guerrero took the floor. The trio showcased advanced technique, amazing choreography, and a strong emotional connection. Their techniques reflected both technical ability and their passion for dance,making it one of the standout performances of the day.
The team Hip Hop followed, bringing a completely different energy to the stage. Full of swag and style, and truly showed their use of musicality on stage. The routine emphasized their stage presence, and the dancers committed fully to the style, energizing the crowd. Jon Kian Razon quotes, “This dance is full of swag and style, and I love doing it with my team.”
Next up was Varsity Jazz, the team displayed technical excellence and expressive storytelling. The choreography combined team turns, jumps, and leaps with smooth transitions and showcased their amazing musicality. Natalia Alcantar states, “This is my favorite dance ever, I not only love the song but I love performing with my girls.” The dancers balanced strength and sass, creating a routine that was both powerful and visually captivating.
JV Pom brought facials along with precision to the floor. The team executed clean motions and lots of formation changes while maintaining high energy throughout the routine. Their performance reflected growth and , showing their commitment to their team as well as SDHS.
Varsity Production “Georgia” was one of the most theatrical pieces of the afternoon, and it ended up being their top scoring number. With fun props, and creative costumes, the team delivered a strong character performance, that not only told a story, but incorporating technical difficulty. The team’s ability to maintain energy in such a large scale routine demonstrated how much teamwork and communication those girls have together.
The emotional aspect continued with Varsity Contemporary “Death Row”. This routine focused more on storytelling and connection, blending sharp technical movements with dramatic musicality. This dance was a crowd favorite, and left a lasting impression on both judges and audience.
Then was JV Jazz, which was an amazing performance to watch. This dance was taught by JV captain Jocelyn Ruelas (11th), and was executed with strong technique and amazing facials. The team maintained spacing and consistent energy, showing their preparation for this comp. Finally, the competition concluded with the JV Character “Newsies” routine. This routine was lively, and full of personality. Not only was this dance fun to watch, but the dancers embraced their characters, using exaggerated expressions and theatrical movement to fully engage the audience. It was a fun and memorable way to close out a long day of competition. Junior Jacob Marshall quotes, “There were a few errors that happened in this dance….. However I still loved performing it with my JV Team, spite the very very slippery floor!”
After they finished up the last few routines, it was now time for team bonding at the trailer. As the team ate all together, many girls were sleeping or just hanging on the couch and pullout floors. The girls played the infamous SD Dance Team game, “Feet Off The Table”, a game they came up with last year at Nationals, and it was truly one of the best parts of the comp. They realized that no matter what place they finished in, at the end of the day, they would always have eachother. This comp may have sounded like a rough experience for some, and well it was, it was also a little moment that made the whole nationals season so much better. It might sound small; however, it was an incredibly special time when they grew even closer, and for some of the girls, it became a small but special moment they’ll always remember.
Now it was time for awards. They had competed in one of the hardest competitions in the state, but their hard work had paid off. It wasn’t just about the trophies or the titles; it was about the journey they had taken together as a team. As they got their awards, even though it was a tough competition with countless amazing teams, they got first in Varsity Pom and Varsity Production “Georgia”. Not only did the SD Dance team beat out their rival production competition, but they ended up scoring a 90.7 and qualified to compete in the Gold category for Nationals! This was a huge win for the team, because not only did they get amazing corrections to apply, but they scored the highest in a routine that they put so much effort into.
They took the feedback from the judges and are eager for the next competition where they can apply these corrections and do even better than the time before! The team gathered for one final picture, happily knowing they had earned their place for nationals, both in Gold and in Open. They left Chino Hills High that evening exhausted but proud, ready to take on the next challenge; WCE nationals! And they knew, no matter what happened that day, they had already achieved something more priceless than a trophy or medal, a special bond with each and every girl! It had been an unforgettable day, and it was only the beginning of their nationals season. Until nationals!
