Dance team wowed the home crowd

By Barbara Brown
Chisago Lakes and Forest Lake visited North Branch High School Monday night to compete in the Vikings first dance team competition of the season.
The Vikings ran away with first place in the high kick category, a category that served the team well last year as it nearly made it to state competition in high kick.
North Branch came in second behind Chisago Lakes in the Jazz/ Funk category.
Three judges were in attendance, keeping a close watch on form,
Final score in the high kick category was 156 for North Branch and 140 for Forest Lake. Chisago Lakes did not compete in high kick.
Chisago Lakes did win the jazz/funk category with a score of 164 to North Branchís 153. Forest Lake finished in third with 124.
Despite the scores, all the teams seemed to enjoy the competition and even cheered each other on during performances.
Coach Dianna Linehan said she and assistant coach Nicole Norsted Heimer were pleased with the performances.
ìIt was our first competition of the year,î Linehan said. ìThey hadn't even performed any of the routines yet. We were hoping that they would go out on the floor and show off all of their hard work.î
Showing off in dance team competitions is certainly allowable and expected. One aspect the teams are judged on is presentation that takes facial expressions and confidence into consideration.
Linehan said the teamís best points from Monday night were whipping their kicks down, nailing leaps, turns, and jumps so that everyone is on the same count.
She said she wants the team to work on the presentation and execution parts of their routines. They have nearly mastered the technical skills, she said, but need to remember to relax and enjoy themselves because their attitudes show on their faces.
ìEven though it is difficult to do while you know a judge is critiquing you, it is still very important to have rapport with the audience and the judges,î Linehan said.
ìWe lacked a bit on this Monday night, but I attribute that to nerves,î she said.
Linehan said the team did great overall on Monday night and that more important than any score was that the team had fun. She said she was pleased to see so many students, teachers, parents and other relatives and friends in the stands to cheer for North Branch.
ìThere is nothing like walking on to the performance floor and hearing the cheers from the audience,î Linehan said. ìIt gets your adrenaline going and your heart racing.
ìThe more people that are there cheering the girls on, the better they perform.î
The team will compete in a larger competition this Saturday at St. Benís College.
A performance is scheduled for Thursday night during the girls basketball game at North Branch High School.
On Saturday, February 1st, the team will compete in the largest invitational of the year called Winter Carnival at Chaska High School.

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