S. C. Lee Starlettes capture top honors at dance contest
Fri, 2015-03-06 05:00
News Staff
By WENDY SLEDD
It is a year of firsts for the S.C.Lee Junior High Starlettes dance team. This is the first year that the school has a formalized dance team. They have new uniforms, new members and an everincreasing love for the sport of dance. Now, the hard-working group of middle schoolers is paying off as it adds its first dance trophy to the display case. The Starlettes entered their first dance contest recently in the American Drill Team School Heart of Texas Classic Dance Contest held at Ellison High School where 11 middle schools performed various types of dance routines from pom to jazz to hip hop as well as several other categories. S. C. Lee entered the Team Open category requiring a routine that showcased several types of dance techniques all rolled into one difficult routine. Dance teams were not ranked by placings but instead were awarded levels of qualification and a few specialty awards. The S. C. Lee dancers were ranked in Division I, meaning they scored the highest division possible, resulting in an impressive feat for a team that has only been together for about 4 1/2 months. Additionally, more than half of the members had never been on a dance team prior to Starlettes. Some of the Starlette members had no formal dance training until they started their journey at tryouts in mid-September. The contest accomplishment makes the Starlettes 8th grade captain, Avian Queen, and Coach Brooke Lewis very proud. “This was my first time going to competition. Being able to spend the time with my spectacular dance team that has only been together a short time was amazing,” Queen said. “My team’s hard work and performance really surprised and amazed me and the judges.” Although the dance team members are at such a young age, the captains of the group including 6th grade co-captain Chloe Herrera have stepped into strong leadership roles. “I’m proud of these girls and boys for how far they’ve come,” Herrera said. “Through all the tough times, they still didn’t give up and did their best at competition.” Lewis is hard at work giving the Starlettes as much community exposure as possible while involving them in several charitable causes. “This amazing group of young dancers will continue to perform around the community until the end of the school year,” Lewis said. “Next year, they will be looking to up their appearance at contest and enter into more categories so they are eligible for more awards.” To catch some of their current routines, look for the S. C. Lee Starlettes’ performances at the YMCA’s Month of the Military Child celebration, the Copperas Cove Relay for Life event, Rabbit Fest and at the 5th grade S. C. Lee Parent Orientation.