The energy soared at the Reggie Gym Saturday, Feb. 8, as dance teams from across the Bay State division competed for the title of Bay State champion at the annual Bay State Conference Dance Championships.
Dance placed second in the hip-hop division at the event, fueled by its spirit and dedication.
According to junior Charlotte Cohen, a captain along with senior Gabriella Busa, despite not taking home the gold, the team still viewed the competition as a success.
Cohen said, “I think that we did a good job for what we had, and I’m proud of us.”
This competition was the first for the Tigers, as they abstained from attending the Universal Dance Association (UDA) High School National Competition in Orlando, Florida this year. Additionally, ten out of the 21 athletes on North’s team this season are freshmen, making Bay States their very first high school competition.
The Tigers only had two weeks to learn their entire routine to be showcased at the championships. Due to the time constraints, according to Busa, the team had to practice until 10:30 p.m. Friday night and wake up early the day of the competition in order to learn the last minute of the choreography.
Busa added, “we didn’t have much time to prepare and get the choreography stuck in our heads, so it definitely was a challenge.”
A small group of Wellesley dancers kicked off the hip hop division with a performance to a remix that ended with Kendrick Lamar’s “HUMBLE.”
As Wellesley exited the gym, all eyes turned to the Tigers. Wearing matching outfits consisting of white cargo sweatpants, sparkly undershirts, black button-down tees, and silver chains, the team appeared ready to deliver.
The dancers positioned themselves in a straight line with their backs facing the crowd, as junior Amani Arunga began an emotional solo. Seconds later, the team erupted into an explosive rendition of NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye.”
“I think the routine is really fun, and there’s a lot of good energy,” said Cohen. “And when people encapsulate that energy, it just projects into the audience and onto the judges.”
A highlight of the dance was when the entire team circled around freshman Maeve Pelis as she was lifted into the air with her arms outstretched. As she descended, so did the rest of the Tigers, and they seamlessly transitioned to their next move.
The team’s energy only slightly faltered at the end of the dance. Head coach Caroline Nunberg said, “I think we’re still working on the ending, because it is the newest. But I think overall it’s a fun routine and they did really well with it.”
The final competitor for the hip hop division, Framingham, danced after North. Dressed in baseball uniforms, the team pulled out a strong performance.
Before announcing the winners of the competition, awards were handed out to students for their achievements this season in dance. Cohen earned a Bay State League Dance Honorable Mention, and Busa was named a Bay State All Star.
At the end of the event, Framingham took home the victory, securing first place over second-place North and third-place Wellesley.
North will compete in the State Tournament at Framingham High School Saturday, March 1.
“We’re planning on really drilling this routine and cleaning every second of it, making sure that it is pretty much flawless for states and come back with the state title,” said Busa.
Cohen added, “There are obvious things that need improvement, but what doesn’t? And, overall, I’m very proud of us and what we have accomplished.”
