Montezuma Dance Teams, individuals earn Division 1 honors at ISDTA State Championships

​      Montezuma dancers competed in Class 1 Jazz, Pom and Hip Hop at the 47th Annual Iowa State Dance Team (ISDTA) State Championships. Pictured are, from left, front row: Kami Mathes, Lily Shoemaker, Mia Boulton, Abby Cheney, Izzy Roorda, Claire Erselius, Hayley Burnett, Lindsey Henry, Coral Lowry. Second row: dance instructor Macy Richards, Camryn Brennan, Ellen Cook, Taya Sincox, Kylee Larmore, Elizabeth De Jong, Laila Kercheval, Haileah Eichenberger, Addyson Probasco, Krista Cheney, Tayler Wickham. Not pictured is Emily Jo James.

​By J.O. Parker
 
       The Montezuma Dance program earned six Division 1 ratings at the 47th Annual Iowa State Dance Team (ISDTA) State Championships.
    The Iowa State Dance & Drill Team Association’s Iowa High School and College State Dance Team Championship was held Nov. 30, Dec. 1 & Dec. 2 at the Wells Fargo Arena and Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.
Montezuma competed in three group routines in Class 1. They included Hip Hop, “Money Moves”; Jazz, “Power” and Pom, “Sweet as Candy.” 
    Dancers included Mia Boulton, Abby Cheney, Laila Kercheval, Camryn Brennan, Lily Shoemaker, Izzy Roorda, Coral Lowry, Ellen Cook, Elizabeth De Jong, Addyson Probasco, Tayler Wickham, Emily Jo James, Kylee Larmore, Taya Sincox, Hayley Burnett, Lindsey Henry, Haileah Eichenberger, Kami Mathes, Krista Cheney and Claire Erselius.
     The three soloists who performed were Abby Cheney, Coral Lowry and Lily Shoemaker.
   “We had another great year perfecting and performing three team routines and three solo routines this season,” said dance coach Macy Taylor Richards, who is in her fourth year leading the dance team. “Dance is something that I truly believe gets under appreciated and the effort these ladies give every practice is second to none. I’m beyond grateful to be a coach to such dedicated, wonderful young ladies. I already can’t wait for next season.”
   Teams are divided into classes based on school enrollment. They are evaluated and judged by industry professionals from all corners of the United States.

​     Three Montezuma dancers performed solo routines, all earning Division 1 ratings. They are, from left: Abby Cheney, Lily Shoemaker and Coral Lowry.