After dancing and cheering at football games throughout the fall, the Montezuma-Cortez High School spirit teams traveled to Durango on Nov. 8 to compete in a National Dance Association (NDA) Regional Competition.
Dancers capture regional titles
Showing off impressive moves during two well-choreographed routines, the M-CHS dance team finished first in the jazz and hip-hop categories. By virtue of their top finish, the team qualified for the NDA State Competition in Denver on Dec. 5.
“Our jazz routine was choreographed by the team’s three seniors (Shannyn Livingston, Mackenzie Branson and Shaunnell Butler),” said Butler. “Our hip-hop routine is the one that we’ll perform at state.”
Asked about the team’s goals for the state competition, Butler said that she hopes everyone will dance with energy, work together, be precise and have fun.
The team has been practicing from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 a.m. most weekdays throughout the fall. The team has also danced at most football games, and some team members take private dance lessons.
To help fund their trip to Denver, the team hosted the M-CHS Dance Team Dodgeball Tournament in Cortez on Oct. 25. Eight teams paid $50 for the opportunity to compete, and those involved enjoyed the experience.
“Even though (the dance team) didn’t win, it was a lot of fun,” said team member Wesley Kirks.
After competing at state, the dance team will continue practicing and performing at M-CHS basketball games throughout the winter season.
Cheerleaders qualify for state
Presenting a routine that combined dancing, stunting, cheerleading and tumbling, the M-CHS cheerleading team finished second at Regionals on Nov. 8.
Thanks to their performance, the 18-member team qualified for the state competition, which will be held in Denver on Dec. 5.
“My favorite part of cheerleading is the competition season and the tumbling,” said tumbling specialist Keyana Matteson.
“I like going up to state and seeing the schools that are more privileged than we are compete,” added stunt specialist Skye Cole.
As for the group’s goals heading to the state competition, team members said that a top finish is within reach.
“We want to finish in the top-15,” said first year cheerleader Kayla Hageman. “There will be 72 teams in the competition.”