The Bearden Dance Team is a highly respected, nationally recognized program known for consistently high placement in competitions.
In the past month, the team continued that success at the state and regional level. At state, they placed second in large varsity gameday and first in small varsity pom, and at regionals they placed second in large varsity game day and third in large varsity jazz.
This is the first year that Bearden has competed in the small varsity division at state. It has helped get them ready for nationals in February when they will compete in small varsity in pom and jazz, while still competing in medium varsity in gameday.
The dancers are motivated by the change in size to build an even more intense work ethic in practice leading up to nationals.
“We’re having to learn about different teams in the competition and how we can still be as good with less people,” junior Addie Duggan said.
While the division change could be seen as intimidating for the dancers, the team believes it gives them a chance to prove themselves a threat to the competition, even with a smaller team.
“We can do more skills that are harder because people can pick them up quicker,” senior Abigail Standifer said.
Along with a changing approach to competition, a smaller team has also welcomed a positive shift in the team dynamic.
“We’re all so close, and we are doing more things out of practice,” Standifer said. “It’s just helped us get really good really quickly. … When we got on the floor, like especially for state, everyone that was next to us on the floor and in the audience could feel that we all collectively wanted the same thing.”
Added senior Kelsi Wright: “I 100% think that it’s so good because everyone is actually determined to reach a goal this year.”