The Becker Dazzlers Dance Team will feature 23 dancers for the 2016-17 season. Coaches Julie Baloun and Nadia Fischer-Danzeisen will share coaching duties.

 

The team lost just one senior to graduation (Mikayla Henkemeyer), who showed a lot of improvement, perseverance and determination her final year with the team. Baloun and Fischer-Danzeisen said she was a great role model for their young team.

 

Baloun and Fischer-Danzeisen have also hired a part-time assistant JV Coach in Jody Lechner-Roepke.

 

“She's been a great addition to our coaching staff.” said Baloun.

 

Last year, the Dazzlers saw a fair amount of rule changes. However this year,  there have not been rule changes but, the league and dance coaches association have been pushing for “live scoring” at competitions.

 

“Look for more information, scores, etc. this season on that,” said Baloun.

 

The Dazzlers have been gradually improving scores since the formation of the team several years ago under Laura Anderson. The coaches are constantly teaching the veterans and grooming the young up-starts.

 

“Even with our young team last year, we improved scores,” said  Fischer-Danzeisen. “So, the coaching staff is expecting the trend to continue.” 

 

“We still have a young team, but we also have a lot of motivated, hard working and dedicated athletes  who are willing to push through the glass ceiling our 4AA section has created,” said Baloun.

 

Baloun and Fischer-Danzeisen have named Morgan Meyer as the sole captain of this year’s team. She is a only a junior and the coaches love that she is a natural-born leader. 

 

“We're very fortunate to have such a hard working, dedicated leader help our younger athletes strive for their goals,” said  Fischer-Danzeisen.

 

In the first few seasons as a competitive team, the Dazzlers’ strength was typically their kick team which tended to score higher in events. However, over the past couple seasons, the Dazzlers’ jazz scores have evened things out. 

 

“We score and place very similarly in jazz and kick,” said Baloun. “Our team put in a lot of time in the weight room and at summer practices gaining strength, knowledge, and proper technique to improve our scores.”

 

Choosing music each year tends to be one of the most difficult decisions  the coaches and dancers face every season. Ultimately, it is the coaching staff’s job to pick the music. 

 

“However, athletes will often start giving ideas or avenues at the end of every season (February), until an official song is decided,” said  Fischer-Danzeisen. “It is much more complicated than picking a song that sounds good.” 

 

The coaching staff evaluates tempo, dynamics within the song, song length, appropriateness and general feeling the song gives. 

 

“The goal is to choose music that 'fits' the team, but that the audience and judges will also enjoy,”  Fischer-Danzeisen said.

 

One of Nadia’s favorite parts of coaching dance is watching the excitement of someone who reached a goal they thought was impossible at first. 

 

“But, my favorite part about coaching this team is walking into practices  knowing we couldn't ask for better student-athletes to be a part of our team,” she said.

 

For Baloun,  she loves to see the personal growth that occurs throughout the season, not just in the skills, but in the confidence level.

 

“It is always fun when you can walk into a practice and say ‘It's time to make this harder’ and they get excited,” she said.

 

Teaching dance can bring excitement and joy, but can also be toiling in the day-to-day practices and rehearsals.

 

“One of the biggest struggles is trying to interpret and convey the scores to the dancers, parents, and public,” said Baloun. “There isn't enough education and general knowledge for it to make sense to a large majority of people.” 

 

“Dance is enjoyable to watch, but the judges are doing much more than just watching the routine,” said Fischer-Danzeisen.   “They are evaluating the difficulty, precision, execution and effectiveness all within a short period of time.  Audiences often have a ‘favorite' routine of the day, but that is not always the routine that wins.”

 

This year’s team consists of Lauren Baloun (9),  Heaven Bray (9), Sophia Diaz (9), Taylor Larson (9), Autumn Martin (9), Morgan Meyer, Morgan (11), Morgan Peterson (10), Cassidy Pleoger (8), Cienna Pleoger (9), Madison Pleoger (9), Emma Proefrock (8), Samantha Stellmach (11), Melody Swanson (11), Bella Watts (9).