Dance Team wins their 34th national title in the medium kick category

Dance Team secured first place in the medium and overall kick categories at the Contest of Champions, hosted at the Universal Orlando Resort, Fla. from Feb. 27 to March 1. 

The Walnut Dance Team was one of the few representatives from California and competed against over 100 other schools from across the nation in lyrical, pom and kick. The competition was formatted into categories based on dance style and team size, ranging from small to extra large. Each team performed once, with some categories having more rounds that led to finals. 

“Given that it is my first year [on the team], it was really nerve-racking to be in front of all those people during the competition,” freshman Jamie Ryann Halili said. “I was prepared, but the big stage and lights shining down upon me felt a bit daunting. Thankfully, once we started [performing] my confidence returned.” 

Leading up to nationals, the team dedicated months to rigorous practice, focusing on guiding, setting formations and showmanship. Every Wednesday at 6 a.m., the dancers worked to correct mistakes and adjust to competition floor layouts. The team also had mile runs on Thursdays to improve their endurance. During breaks, they would watch videos to review and analyze their performances. 

“Compared to previous years, we never had as strong of a bond as this year, which helped us with our positivity within the team,” co-captain senior Chloe Kwei said. “Even in the judge’s audio, they mentioned that our team’s comfortability translated on the dance floor as if we were dancing for each other.” 

During the competition, the dancers faced additional challenges. Unlike their competitions in California, in which the team knew the dance styles of other teams, they had no idea what to expect from the teams in Florida. The three-hour time difference further decreased their motivation, as call times were much later. That being said, the team focused on refining small details for a better showing and more fluidity on the dance floor. 

“As a team, I felt that our perseverance was there, despite some of the challenges we faced [that were] out of our control,” junior Kyrah Chien said. “The overall competition atmosphere was really fun and high-energy, which definitely helped bring us back to reality. After all, we [trained] for this very moment.” 

The Dance Team’s next competition will be the USA nationals in Anaheim from March 21-23. To prepare, the team plans on continuing their 6 a.m. routine and after-school practices. 

“I could definitely tell that the girls were nervous this year, which was not something I have seen in past years, but I don’t blame them,” head coach Audrey Wang said. “Despite knowing they had a big legacy to carry on, they brought home the 34th title, something they had been working so hard towards this entire season.”