Dancer Competes in Rapid City, SD

Post date: Mar 02, 2021 3:41:37 PM

Stepping it up can mean dancing on a stage with hundreds of people watching and, yes, judging.

Small town girl and SBHS freshman Mary Vallette has been preparing for the regional dance competition to be held in Rapid City, SD, called Celebration Talent Competition.

Vallette said she thinks the “best part of dance competitions is getting to perform three days at the competition, but also getting to perform for three minutes.”

Within those 180 seconds, dancers find ways to overcome and beat their nemesis, stress.

“I prevent myself from getting stressed out by just breathing and focusing on what I’m there to do,” Vallette said. “With my teammates, I prevent them from becoming stressed out by constantly saying things like ‘we got this’ or ‘we’re going to do great.’”

Dancers also have people who can help them with stress during the competitions and rehearsals.

”I’m mostly the person who helps me with stress,” Vallette said. “Coaches and teammates help by having little pep talks, but only I can control what I feel.”

When individuals start competing in dance when they are young, it can be difficult to enjoy the challenges they face. But as they grow, dancers start to realize they enjoy what goes into the competitions.

“I realized I liked dancing competitively when I first won a high scoring awards with my first solo, ‘Train Song,’” Vallette said.

The choice to become a competitive dancer is personal. Sometimes it is a choice made by parents.

“I didn’t really choose to be on a competition team,” Vallette said. “My mom kind of forced me into it. I chose to stay on a competition team because I love the adrenaline that runs through my body when I’m backstage or onstage. I love being a part of a big, supportive family and being able to express myself through dance. The dance, the lights, the adrenaline, the applause, it's what I live for, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

Because of the time, commitment and work invested in this activity, dancers have said they prepare like all sportsmen and women, building muscles and stamina.

“Dancers are definitely athletes because we train and train and become proficient in dance,” Vallette said. “You have to build up muscles in your legs and arms to make everything you do look graceful. Dance is an art form used to creatively express yourself. The only time I would consider dance a sport is at dance competitions because you’re competing, just like every other sport.”

Vallette and dancers from around the region will be competing March 5-7.

BW_Cutout_VollmerRian.tif: Mary Vallette (9), Benae Reupel (9), Morgan Pettyjohn (8), Lily Hatzenbuhler (8) and Zoe Wick (7) demonstrate trust in each other during a slight pause in their dance. photo by Rian Vollmer, staff