Grinnell Tiger Paws Dance Team earn top six honors at ISDTA

​        Members of the Grinnell Tiger Paws Dance Team competed at the 49th Annual Iowa State Dance Team Association (ISDTA) State Championships, Dec. 6 – 8, placing second in the MIX category, which is a combination of different styles of dance throughout the routine; third place in Hip Hop; fourth place in Pom; and sixth place in Jazz. Dancers are, from left, front row: Piper Donohoe, Judith Perez-Valentin, Olivia Chandler; Back row: Coach Sydney Bradford, Brooke Maschmeier, Makenna Stahl, Chloe Stevenson, MaCaeyla Snodgrass, Emma Shawler, Isabelle Holden, Brenna Sherman and Farrah Pefferman-Orstad. 

​By J.O. Parker
 
       The Grinnell Tiger Paws Dance Team recently participated in the 49th Annual Iowa State Dance Team Association (ISDTA) State Championships, where they enjoying another historic showing.
       The team competed in four categories on Friday, Dec. 6, day one of the competition. The Tiger Paws brought home a second place finish in the Class II MIX category, which is a combination of different styles of dance throughout the routine; third place in Class VI Hip Hop; fourth place in Class IX Pom; and sixth place in Class V Jazz.
     "I am super proud of the girls' for rising to the occasion and executing all of their routines to perfection,” noted Coach Sydney Bradford, who is in her third year coaching the dancers. “They are such a hard working team and we have had a great competition season; starting with being Conference Champions in Pom and Hip Hop and Conference Runner Ups in Jazz, to ending our competitive season with top placements in each of our categories. I am so incredibly proud of the dancers' dedication, determination and passion for their team and this sport."
      More than 250 teams and 556 routines compete in the three days of competition, Dec. 4 - 6, at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, making this the largest state dance competition in the United States. 
      Teams are divided into classes based on school enrollment. They are evaluated and judged by industry professionals from all corners of the United States.
      The dance team will be performing at the home basketball games on Jan. 17 and Feb. 7 before wrapping up their season on Feb. 21 at their annual winter showcase at 6:30 p.m. at the high school.