GRAND CHAMPS — The Cleveland Middle School Dance Team, the Raiderettes, recently took home the Grand Champion Award at the Inferno Spirit Georgia Blast Dance Competition. The talented young performers also took home many awards in state competitions in Nashville, Chattanooga and Sevierville.
On Nov. 13, 2010, the Cleveland Middle School Dance Team, the Raiderettes, competed in the Jamfest Country Jam Dance Competition in Nashville. The 26 talented middle school dance team members brought home first place in junior high pom, first place in junior high hip hop, and first place in junior high jazz. The highlight of the evening was when the team won the Spirit Award for having the routine out of 16 teams which showed the most school spirit. Their pom routine won the talented young dancers that high honor.
On Nov. 20, 2010, the Raiderettes competed in the Jamfest Game Day Dance and Cheer Competition in Chattanooga. The dancers won first place in junior high jazz, first place in junior hip hop, and second place in junior high pom defeating Ooltewah Middle School Dance Team, Ringgold Middle School Dance Team, of Ringgold, Ga.; and Heritage Middle School Dance Team from Ringgold. The CMS Dance Team also won the MVP Team Award for having the highest dance score in the entire competition, also defeating the scores from Station Camp High School, of Gallatin, and Heritage High School from Ringgold. Due to this honor, the CMS dancers received a bid to the U.S. Finals National Dance Competition.
Sonia Heming, a three-year member of the CMS Dance Team, was honored with the Most Valuable Dancer Award from the judges.
“I was really excited to receive this award from the judges. Dancing on the CMS Dance Team makes me feel happy. It is a lot of work, but it definitely pays off,” said Heming.
On Nov. 21, 2010, the CMS Raiderettes competed in Stockbridge, Ga., in the Inferno Spirit Georgia Blast Dance Competition. The team danced their way to first place in junior high jazz, first place in junior high pom, and first place in junior high hip hop. The team also won the Grand Champion Award which went to the junior high team with the highest overall dance score.
On Dec. 4, 2010, the CMS Raiderettes traveled to Sevierville to compete in the Universal Dance Association Smoky Mountain Dance Competition. The CMS dancers won first place in junior high hip hop, defeating Decatur County Middle School Dance Team, from Parsons; Liberty Middle School, from Clifton, Va.; and Pleasant Grove Middle School, from Pleasant Grove, Ala. The dance team also won second place in junior high jazz defeating Ringgold Middle School Dance Team, Liberty Middle School and Discovery Middle School, of Madison, Ala.
“I feel proud to wear the CMS Dance Team jacket at school because when people see me in that jacket they know I am part of such a great and successful team. When we win, I feel proud. I know that all of that practicing does pay off,” said Brynnan Miller, three-year veteran of the CMS Dance Team.
Competitive 2010-11 CMS Dance Team members are Mary Maddox, Ashlyn Tillotson, Maddie Pemberton, Sara Riggle, Brynnan Miller, Ana Rocha, Brooke Humble, Abby Brown, Kimmy Morris, Marisa Rogers, Jada Blackwell, Hallie Hughes, Sonia Heming, Annie Hobbs, Erin Cooper, Madeline Hoops, Emma Waddel, Blaire Brooks, Joeli Poole, Gabrielle Thornton, Breanna Long, Ashley Hamilton, Taylar Hooker, Kim Cooper, Taylor Allison, and Chloe Baggett. She is assisted by Haleigh May and Tonya Cawood. Choreographers are Will Linder, Jasmine Horn, Susan Dyer and James Vassell.
“We work very, very hard. We work on dance technique, performance quality, and dance formations daily. I am so proud when I read the judges’ comments, and they tell us that we have awesome energy, great kicks and great group work. We are proud to be an integral part of the tremendously successful athletic program at CMS,” said Kelly Owens, the CMS Dance Team coach of 11 years.
