Four members of the Becker High School Dazzlers dance team participated in the 2015 All-State Dance Performance held at Wayzata High School March 14. 

 

 Participating from Becker were senior Lindsey Baloun and junior Mikayla Henkemeyer in AA kick. Freshman Ali Bloom and junior Heather Sanders participated in AA jazz.

 

According to MADT (Minnesota Association of Dance Teams) Board members, the association received more nominations this year than ever before. After reviewing video from all over the state of Minnesota, 250 athletes were selected to participate, with no more than four coming from any one school. Athletes participated in either the kick or jazz division and were grouped by Class A, AA, or AAA.

 

"So many talented dancers were chosen to be a part of the all-state dance team and I just feel honored to have had the chance to dance beside them" said Henkemeyer of her experience. 

 

After receiving the routine weeks ahead of time and following a full day of practices with other athletes from all over the state, it was time for Becker’s top dance athletes to show off what they had learned.

 

There are nearly 170 schools in Minnesota with dance teams and of those, about 84 were represented at the all-state competition this year. 

 

The evening started with an introduction of athletes.  As they were introduced by school, athletes performed a short routine of their own choreography.  

 

After introductions, each class performed their kick and jazz routines in front of a full house.  This year’s show also featured a dance by  Team Minnesota, which is made up of Miss Dance Team Minnesota candidates from 10 different state dance teams who will represent Minnesota at the Miss Dance Drill Team USA competition in California this weekend.  

 

The final performance of the night featured all dancers from all classes out on the floor together.  Schools that received academic awards were also announced during the performance.  Seventy-four schools, including Becker, qualified for this award.

 

To be selected for the All State Dance Team, athletes must be nominated by a MADT head coach. A committee of coaches then reviews each dancers personal performances in competition via video submissions. Selected dancers receive invitations to participate from MADT.

 

"Dancing at all-state was so much fun and I'm thankful to have been selected for such a great experience,” said Sanders. “The dancers and coaches were great to work with.” 

 

Ali Bloom agreed.

 

"It was really a great experience and I am glad I got the opportunity to dance with amazing dancers from across the state,” she said. 

 

“Dance in Minnesota is much bigger and more popular then many people realize,” said Coach Julie Baloun. “The line to get in for this performance was out the door and through the parking lot. It was a full house!” 

 

Baloun said the event is so much fun to watch, especially when she and her dancers can see over 200 athletes out on the floor performing together at a very high level. 

Many of the dancers  at all-state were seniors and for them this was the final performance of their high school career.  

 

"I feel very fortunate to have been selected to participate in this event the past two seasons,” said Senior Lindsey Baloun. “It is a challenging and exhausting day, but it is also incredibly rewarding. It's the kind of experience you will  remember forever. It was a great way to end my high school career.” 

 

The Becker Dazzlers graduate four seniors this year. 

 

The 2015-2016 competitive season will begin at the end of October.