North Cedar enjoys state dance competition

DES MOINES - North Cedar's state dance team failed to place in the pom and military divisions at the state meet in December, but did earn a division one ranking.

'I love state dance,” Chelsea Lovell said. 'I have been there two years now and I always get so nervous before the dance but afterwards I feel awesome. I always forget what happened out on the dance floor until I see the video of us performing.”

The other girls on the team are Hailey Fall, Alyssa Higbee, Brittyn Wilhau, Abbey Johnson, Emily Johnson, Haven Brown, Martha Jesuit, Rachel Hart, Kira Jones, Mikayla Burcum and Kayla Sander. Their military dance was the first routine in the morning. The did their poms dance at night.

To prepare for the dance competition, the girls had to put on makeup and style their hair. This task was accomplished from the help of Taylor and Amber Fall.

'I want the girls to have dramatic eye makeup and really pink cheeks,” said Kelly Versendaal, dance team coach. 'Their hair has to be in ballerina buns on top of their heads with white feathers around their buns.”

Hailey Fall's older sister, Taylor, did everyone's makeup and her mom, Amber, did everyone's hair.

After the girls were ready, it was off to Wells Fargo Arena to watch the other dancers until it was time for them to perform.

'I wasn't nervous at all, and even though we didn't place, division one ratings are better than nothing at all,” Johnson said.

The team did great during its two dances, everyone hitting their marks on time and in sync. Both dances were really well rehearsed and performed beautifully. Before the awards, all the dance team members from all the schools lined up and sang Christmas music and some Hannah Montana songs.

The North Cedar dance team will perform their pom and military dances at basketball games during half time in January.