LAFAYETTE — The Mt. Vernon High School Gold Intensity dancers’ medals matched their name after placing first in an event at the state championship.
The team won first place in its division’s pom category at the Indiana High School Dance Team Association State Championship last weekend at Jefferson High School in Lafayette.
The Blue Fusion team from Greenfield-Central High School, which also competed, placed third in the pom category
Emma Sweet, a dancer and junior at Mt. Vernon High School, said the team’s pom routine was full of sharp movements that she and her fellow dancers had to hit strongly.
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The victory felt amazing, Emma said.
"We’d worked so hard, and we put in hours pretty much every single day and all of our work finally paid off," she said.
Gold Intensity’s teamwork, family dynamic and encouragement among dancers and coaches led to the success, Emma said.
The team also took third in hip-hop and fourth in jazz in its division.
Emma said their jazz routine had a dark feel and told a story illustrated through dancers dressed in black trying to capture one dressed in white.
Gold Intensity prepared for the competition by practicing almost three hours a day Monday through Friday, Emma said. Team members usually practiced all day on Saturdays as well if the team didn’t have a competition.
"It’s a big-time commitment, but we all love it," she added.
One of the hardest parts of team dancing is ensuring each dancer moves identically throughout a routine, Emma said. Accomplishing that requires starting out by going through the choreography slowly move by move.
Emma has been dancing since the sixth grade and said the relationships with her teammates and coaches along with her love of the art form keep her coming back year after year.
Blue Fusion, Greenfield-Central High School’s dance program, saw its varsity and junior varsity teams take third in pom at the championship. Brittany Taing, the team’s coach, said two seniors also made the Academic All State team — Katie Jackley and Mackenzie Polster.
"I think we have a bunch of very talented girls, but at the end of the day, we’ve got great leaders in this senior class," Taing said. "They’re all motivated, dedicated and hungry for that success. The younger kids feed off them and strive to do better because of them."
Taing said she couldn’t be happier with the team’s results, adding their division is one of the toughest.
"We are blessed to come home with the bronze and are so grateful for the opportunity to represent our school and community with such achievements," she said.
Blue Fusion trains about 11 months out of the year, which includes cardiovascular conditioning and strength training, Taing said.
"It’s countless hours of hard work, but the team knows the payoff in the end is worth the time, sweat, and tears," she said.
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"We’d worked so hard and we put in hours pretty much every single day and all of our work finally paid off."
Emma Sweet
Mt. Vernon High School Gold Intensity Dance Team
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Indiana High School Dance Team Association State Championship results
Mt. Vernon High School Gold Intensity
Pom: First place
Hip-hop: Third place
Jazz: Fourth place
Greenfield-Central High School Blue Fusion
Pom: Third place
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