Mount Saint Charles Academy’s Elite Dance Team Will Compete at the National High School Dance Team Championships in Florida

WOONSOCKET, RI – On January 29th and 30th, Mount’s Elite Dance Team, also known as Team Elite, will be a part of history as the first high school varsity dance team from Rhode Island to compete at the National Dance Team Championship (NDTC) competition, in Orlando, Florida. This is the highest level of competition for high school dance teams in the United States.

Team Elite consists of 18 extremely skilled high school dance team members who work together as a team in this very unique synchronized dance form which is considered an interscholastic sport in all surrounding states. Although Rhode Island does not recognize high school dance as a sport, the team has begun making a name for itself, in Connecticut and Massachusetts, over these past three years while competing against other high school varsity dance teams. Team Elite’s participation in this national competition will allow them to bring their level of skill to a national platform.

Reflecting the values of Mount, the team will compete in the small school varsity jazz division with a routine called “Amazing Grace.” Tammy Kennedy, coach of Team Elite, said, “This piece really captures the meaning of the lyrics and allows the girls to speak from their hearts through their movement and performance about what they believe to be the truth.”

Members of Team Elite are senior captains, Lauren Adler and Maddie Lacman; seniors – Molly Berard, Meaghan Dubois, Nicole Giordano, Lauren Piette, Melissa Rocchio, Olivia Ross, Marissa Santucci, Erika St. Germain; juniors – Emily Durvin and Jenna Stamps; sophomores – Tayla DiCarlo, Caitlin Lubo; and freshmen – Isabel Bacon, Britnie Carpentier, Jules Kouki, and Allison Prew.

Dance, however, isn’t the only activity the girls excel at. Members of the team play one or more varsity sports and are exceptional students as well. The girls work together and recognize that sacrifice, hard work, and helping each other to be the best for the team as a whole and not as an individual star is a priority over talent and skill. “That is one of the most important qualities that make this team special and successful,” Kennedy said. “The girls are all well rounded athletes and scholars who manage their time effectively and show extraordinary responsibility towards themselves and others. Dedication to the team atmosphere is paramount.” The team also believes that community service is important. Participating in service opportunities throughout the summer and during the school year, Team Elite carefully chooses opportunities they feel connected to on some level.

Locally, Team Elite will be performing at the upcoming Providence College men’s basketball game vs. Xavier on January 22nd at 7p.m. at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, RI. They will demonstrate their diverse skills in a team routine consisting of jazz, hip hop, pom, and kick which encompasses all the styles that exist in a high school dance team. Tickets can be purchased directly from the Dunkin Donuts Center box office.

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