Montezuma Dance Team earns runners up finish at ISDTA State Championships

​       Montezuma dancers competed in Class 1 Jazz, Pom and Hip Hop at the 48th Annual Iowa State Dance Team (ISDTA) State Championships, Nov. 29 – Dec. 1. Pictured are, from left, front row: Ashlee Eilander, Lily Shoemaker, Laila Kercheval, Izzy Roorda, Coral Lowry, Samantha Bos, Camryn Brennan. Middle Row: Haileah Eichenberger, Analeece Kercheval, Taya Sincox, Emily James, Tayler Wickham, Hayley Burnett. Back Row: Vivian Cook, Krista Cheney, Lindsey Henry, Kylee Larmore, Ellen Cook, Elizabeth DeJong, Addyson Probasco, Claire Erselius, Coach Macy Richards and her son, Kolsyn.

By J.O. Parker
 
      The Montezuma Dance program earned top honors in Division 1 at the 48th Annual Iowa State Dance Team (ISDTA) State Championships.
       Montezuma competed in the Class II Hip Hop category and Class III Pom. The team placed fourth in the Pom category and finished runners up in the Hip Hop category.
    The Iowa State Dance & Drill Team Association’s Iowa High School and College State Dance Team Championship was held Nov. 29 – Dec. 1 at the Wells Fargo Arena and Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Montezuma competed on Thursday, Nov. 30.
        “This is a huge accomplishment for this team as they have been working so hard since the end of June on these routines,” said Montezuma Dance Coach Macy Taylor Richards. “Each routine is approximately two minutes long with lots of movement and formation changes.”
      In addition, Lily Shoemaker, a senior at Montezuma, also qualified in October for the Class I dance soloists, where she was able to perform at the state championship. She placed fifth in her category with a beautiful contemporary piece.
      The Montezuma dance team is made up of seven seniors, eight juniors, five sophomores and three freshmen. Dancers included Ashlee Eilander, Lily Shoemaker, Laila Kercheval, Izzy Roorda, Coral Lowry, Samatha Bos, Camryn Brennan, Haileah Eichenberger, Analeece Kercheval, Taya Sincox, Emily Jo James, Tayler Wickham, Hayley Burnett, Vivian Cook, Krista Cheney, Lindsey Henry, Kylee Larmore, Ellen Cook, Elizabeth DeJong, Addyson Probasco and Claire Erselius.
        “I am just so proud of this team. They are some of the most hardworking girls I have come to know and love,” noted Richards. “We have such an amazing time as we practice together and I’m so sad to see our season come to an end. However, I am so excited to plan and explore new ideas to hopefully come back next season to bring home a state championship.”
        Teams are divided into classes based on school enrollment. They are evaluated and judged by industry professionals from all corners of the United States.