The Becker Dazzlers dance team competed in the Section 2A Tournament at Big Lake last Saturday and finished sixth in both categories.

 

“We actually had a great day at sections,” said Coach Julie Baloun. “I think we had our best high kick performance of the season.  Unfortunately, our scores were not quite as high as we hoped.” 

 

Although Becker’s overall point total improved from last year, they ended up with the same placement (sixth) as last year in this category. 

 

“Benilde St. Margaret and Totino Grace are extremely strong teams and we expected them to claim the top two spots, which they did,” she said. “We knew going in there would be a fight for third place. Several teams in our section, including us, had been scoring very similarly all season, so we expected section scores to be tight and they were.” 

 

In the end, Fridley took home the third place title and a trip to state. 

 

“Last year when Fridley placed third, they were 102 points ahead of us. This year we were able to close that gap to 49 points,” said Baloun. “I am very proud of this team and the progress we have made. Our season may be over, but I think we can say that we put everything we had into our dances on Saturday and we had a great last performance.”

 

1). Benilde St. Margaret; 2). Totino-Grace; 3). Fridley; 4). Duluth Denfeld; 5). Chisago Lakes; 6). Becker; 7). Hermantown; 8). Monticello; 9). Zimmerman; 10). Hill Murray; 11). North Branch; 12). Park Center; 13). Big Lake; 14). Pine City. 

 

“Though the team did not place in the top three spots, I was so impressed with the performance executed by the varsity jazz team,” said Coach Laura Anderson. 

 

At sections last year, the Dazzlers placed 11th and this year they placed sixth, so progress is showing. 

 

“Going into the tournament, we were striving for the third place spot following Totino-Grace and Benilde St. Margaret and we knew the competition would be close, and it was,” said anderson. “We scored 99 points higher than last year and surpassed Hermantown, Hill Murray, North Branch and Monticello in placement.” 

 

Last year, the Dazzlers jazz routine ended up 195 points out of third place and this season they narrowed the gap to just 68 points. 

 

“Our highest scores came in the areas of routine effectiveness, visual effectiveness and creativity, practicality of content, choreography and combinations,” said Anderson. “The team truly engaged the audience in the jazz routine and we had so many spectators and fans compliment the athletes on an outstanding performance.”

 

1). Totino-Grace; 2). Benilde St. Margaret; 3). Chisago Lakes; 4). Fridley; 5). Duluth Denfeld; 6). Becker; 7). Hermantown; 8). Monticello; 9). Hill Murray; 10). Zimmerman; 11). North Branch; 12). Park Center; 13). Big Lake.

 

The Becker Dazzlers held their annual Winter Hip-Hop Dance Camp this past week. Thirty-eight girls and one boy attended this ever-growing camp. 

 

“Our highest numbers have been for our Pep Squad Camp that we hold each Fall season with a performance at a Becker home football game,” said Anderson. 

 

The Hip-Hop Camp this year included a halftime performance at Thursday’s Becker boy's varsity basketball game against Albany. 

 

“39 dancers is a record for our winter camp,” said Anderson. 

 

The Becker Dazzlers conduct three dance camps each year as a team fundraiser and as a tool to encourage "campers" to join the team upon entry to seventh grade. 

 

“The camps have become so much more,” said Anderson. “More importantly, our camps have engaged and provided dance skill development and self-esteem for Becker youth and dance team members are able to refine their leadership and teamwork skills as they conduct the camp.”

 

Coaches are present during camp in a supervisory role but team members choreograph and lead the camp practices each day. For this year’s Hip-Hop Dance Camp, junior Amber Mechtel and freshman Morgan Meyer were the choreographers.

 

“One of the things Julie (Baloun), Nadia (Fischer-Danziesen) and I are the most passionate about when it comes to coaching is the growth and development of the young women on the team, both on and off of the performance floor,” said Anderson. “We are so proud of the leadership of our team members.” 

 

The Dazzlers have team members who are also members of student council, NHS, tennis, soccer, swimming, Girls Scouts, prom committee, participation at Just for Kix and/or Starz Dance Studio programs, volunteer work and post secondary education at SCSU, as well as  part-time jobs. 

 

“This is an active, engaged group,” said the head coach. “All that and our team GPA is 3.61. We recognize that we have a group of goal-driven athletes with a strong work ethic. It will be so exciting to see what the future brings for this group.”