SHS Dance Team keeps up the tempo

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint High School Dance Team is keeping up the tempo as the squad is placing at every competition.

At the December competition at Post Falls High School, the SHS Dance team won in all four dance categories, which includes prop, military, lyrical and hip hop, out of the three schools competing.

Solo performer Amanda Steiner placed third. In the duo performance, Kaylee Bennet and Riley Adams came in first and Haleigh Knowles and Mikah Little placed third.

At the Dec. 8 competition at Lakeland High School, the girls placed first in the prop, military and hip hop team routines. Knowles and Little placed first in the duo and Bennet and Adams placed third. Madison Coon placed second in the solo competition.

Coach Sara Garrison gave kudos to the girls’ performance last weekend even after three snow days last week.

The SHS dance team has 12 members who have been dancing all year long. Tryouts to be on the squad were held in April and the squad practiced throughout the summer.

Competition started out hard in August, said Garrison. The girls got better in every competition.

“They receive better scores in every competition and keep improving,” said Garrison.

The girls work hard practicing at 6 a.m. before school five days a week and sometimes four hours on Saturdays. Last year at districts the dance team placed first in all four team dance categories.

“We are probably a shoe-in to take all four team routines to state,” said Garrison.

The team competes next Saturday, Dec. 15, at the University of Idaho at 2:30 p.m. The district competition takes place Jan. 29. To move on to state, a dancer must place first in their category.