Dance Team wraps up successful 2023-24 performance, competition season
The Devils Lake High School Dazzlers Dance Team just wrapped up a successful 2023-‘24 performance and competition season.
The team celebrated their biggest milestone and victory of the year at the North Dakota Association of Dance and Drill State Competition January 26 and 27 at the Minot State Dome.
After an amazing prelims performance, they advanced to the finals round in the Class A High Kick Category and won 5th place. Qualifying for finals in at least one category was a team goal this season. The Dazzlers also competed in Class A Jazz, Hip Hop, and Pom, narrowly missing an advancement to finals in the Pom category. The Dazzlers were awarded the Team Scholar Awarded in recognition of achieving an average team GPA greater than 3.2. This DLHS team maintains a GPA greater than 3.7 and has been honored with this award annually since the team’s inception and their first state competition in 2004. The Dazzler fans were loud and proud at the Dome throughout the state competition weekend. Prior to state competition, the Dazzlers competed at multiple invitationals across North Dakota throughout December and January, bringing home top-ranking trophies in Jazz, Hip Hop, and Pom.
Another highlight of the season was the Dazzlers’ team trip to Florida over the holiday break where they performed in the pre-game and halftime shows at the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa Bay on January 1, 2024. Dancers from 11 states came together to perform before a crowd of 31,424 fans at Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There were 398 performers ranging from 2nd – 12th grade. The dancers and twirlers took up the entire field spanning from goal line to goal line as they performed their 2-minute routine, “Get It Started.” The performers remained on the field during the National Anthem and fly over. During the half-time show, dancers and twirlers filled the field with several high school bands uniting as one mass band to provide the live music for the show, “Get On Your Feet,” followed by a Patriotic finale to “America.” In addition to the performances and practices, dancers, twirlers, family members and coaches enjoyed Florida by spending time at Clearwater Beach, Universal Studios in Orlando, and Busch Gardens. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the Dazzlers.
Provided by Erin Lacina, Head Coach, Devils Lake Dazzlers, Devils Lake High School, 1601 College Drive North, Devils Lake, ND 58301Erin.Lacina@nescnd.org
