by Brooke Brownell

The Stallions Dance Team made history at the NDA (National Dance Alliance) Competition. Over the course of three days, the team competed in the hip-hop and game-day divisions. This was the team's first time attending the national competition, and they placed fourth in the nation.

The NDA (National Dance Alliance) holds premier dance competitions to showcase top teams around the country. The NDA features many styles of dance such as jazz and pom. Jazz focuses on more technical skills and emphasizes fluid movements. Pom is different in that it requires sharp and precise movements, jumps and formation changes. This year, nationals was hosted at the Hilton Orlando, and teams had to qualify at an NDA summer camp. The Stallions Dance Team qualified by winning first place on their “team routine” at the NDA camp. The team was scored based on how well they remembered and showcased the choreography.

The nationals competition was February 14th-16th. Stallion Dance Team member Alanna Cromartie explained the grueling schedule. “Each day we performed, we woke up around 6:30 am and had to eat breakfast and be ready by 8:00 am. We would then go downstairs to our team room to warm up and stretch. By 10:30 am, we would head to the ballroom for check-in (depending on what time we performed that day). After check-in, we were put into a room backstage where we would practice on the same kind of flooring as the stage. Once our time was up, we waited beside the stage behind a curtain in a line behind other teams, then we went on stage and performed," said Cromartie. 

After their performance, the team waited anxiously alongside teams across the nation to see which team would move onto finals. To prepare mentally, Cromartie made sure to focus. Cromartie said, “We do a visualization circle where we stand or sit in a circle and play our music and run through the dance (not full out).” For her own preparations, she says she likes to go over difficult parts of the dance to ensure no mistakes are made on stage.

​ Judges would score each routine based on performance impression, uniformity, quality of movement, authenticity, choreography and staging. Our Stallions scored high enough to make it to the finals and went on to win fourth overall. “I felt great about both of my performances. I know neither one was perfect, but I know that I did what I could to contribute to a better score,” Cromartie said.

Cromartie's fellow team member, Eulalia Lockhart, also added how incredible the experience was. Lockhart said, “Before and after our performance it was so surreal because I have never had the opportunity to compete, and I was so grateful that my first time was with this team because we worked so hard. We raised so much money; after we performed it kind of hit me of how much support we have from not only our own families as well as families from other schools. I appreciate (the support) so much.”

The team worked towards nationals for over six months, and they practicing two to three times a week to perfect their performance. They plan to go to nationals again, but Lockhart and Cromartie both tell The Daily Trot that they will need lots of help with funding. If they do get another bid, they may change the dance styles. Their options include hip-hop, pom, jazz and more. Focusing on practice will be essential for getting another bid and placing in nationals again.

The Dance Team here at Southeast is incredibly proud to take home fourth in the nation, and they love knowing that they are able to showcase their talent on a bigger stage. With this being their first time ever attending nationals, they can’t wait for their chance to return and show more of their capabilities.