For the third year in a row, the Becker Bulldogs’ competitive dance team missed qualifying for the state tournament by one spot, giving an emotional end to their spectacular season. Varsity jazz took 4th place and kick took 5th out of the 15 teams competing in the Section 4AA competition.

“The Becker Dance Team had a season for the record books,” said Head Coach Nadia Fischer-Danzeisen. “Not only did they continue to break scoring records all season long, they earned banners for the dance team set to be hung in the high school gym later this year.”

The team won every conference meet they had on both the varsity and JV levels this season; in doing so they earned a conference champ banner for jazz and kick. Overall, score records were broken in total score, highest score given by a single judge, and kick’s first ‘9 out of 10’s. The team also beat Rocori and Cathedral at points throughout the season for the first time in its history.

Section 4AA competed last weekend at Monticello High School; Sections 2AA competed at North Branch and 3AA at Delano High School. Out of the 29 teams competing, Becker’s dance team had the 6th highest scores.

“Both kick and jazz performances were arguably the best performances this program has ever done,” said Danzeisen. “I have no regrets about Saturday, the team executed everything we asked them to do.”

Danzeisen thanked the team’s six seniors, Heaven Bray, Taylor Larson, Autumn Martin, Cienna Pleoger, Madison Pleoger, and Isabelle Swanson, for their dedication to the team.

“Probably the coolest thing about Saturday had nothing to do with athleticism,” said Danzeisen. “I observed, was told, and was a part of so many people complementing our kids on their wonderful sportsmanship and the heart they danced with. We constantly talk about ‘controlling the controllables’ at practice, and I feel this team is really starting to live that.”

Danzeisen is one of the youngest head coaches in the state, and the Becker Bulldogs’ dance team is one of the fastest growing programs in regard to scores and competitiveness. The year she took over coaching kick, the team jumped from 13th to 4th place in one season.

She was hired six seasons ago at age 19 as the JV head coach, the following year she began co-coaching. 2018-2019 was her first year as sole head coach. She began dancing when she was three and danced for both her high school and college teams.

Becker Bulldogs’ dance will be holding a try-out clinic for students in fifth grade and up on March 2. Anyone interested should go to community education to sign up. 

More information about team try outs will be posted at a later date.