For the second time in school history, Santiago’s Dance Team took home the national title at the USA Dance Competition. They competed March 29 and 30 at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa and were able to bring home a monumental victory for the second consecutive year. Coaches Lysa Pecoy and Stephanie Elkin proved instrumental in guiding the talented dancers to further the prestige of Santiago in the world of performing arts.
The competition featured teams from across the nation and displayed a variety of different dance styles from hip-hop to contemporary. Teams who received an average score of 85 points or above in a qualifying division at a USA Regional qualified to compete in the USA Dance/Drill Nationals in the Championship division. Teams that scored an 84.9 or below qualified to compete in the Open division. Santiago took four routines to nationals, one that qualified for the Open division and three in the Championship division.
During the preliminary competition on Friday, Santiago’s extra small dance and small dance qualified for the final round that was held that Saturday. During the final round, the small dance received fifth place. Their sweeping victory came when their extra small dance took home first place in addition to another award for the top dance routine overall. The routine was a contemporary/lyrical routine featuring dance team members senior Stephanie Ha, junior Briana Markovich, junior Alexis Hood, sophomore Kourtney Cornell and freshman Felicity Hyama. The girls dedicated the last few months to perfecting the routine that was choreographed in late October by local dance studio owner Terry Schulke.
During the 2011-2012 school year, Santiago Dance Team made school history for the first time with their extra small routine in the finals division at the USA dance competition nationals. Held at the Anaheim Convention Center during March 2012, the team won first place and was awarded the sweepstakes for the highest-scoring dance routine.
“It’s always been a goal to reach first place, but when we got to the time and place last year we just danced and didn’t really worry about it. To actually get first place was just surreal, and to defend it this year made me proud,” said Ha.
The team has excelled under long-time coach Pecoy who has been in charge of the team for almost nine years. Pecoy first took over the team when her daughter, Ashton Pecoy, was on the team and has developed and shaped the team ever since. As of two years ago, assistant coach Elkin joined the coaching staff, having been a dance team alumnus under Pecoy. The duo are deeply involved in grooming the girls all year long by emphasizing skills such as responsibility, how to prioritize, the importance of hard work and respect above all else. They continue to build up the prestige of the Santiago Dance Team as they avidly prepare for the upcoming season.
