Willow Dance ESD and State

Today marked the end of Willow’s competitive dance season, and what a season it’s been! After months of early morning practices, long bus rides, and countless hours of rehearsing choreography until it was second nature, the girls took the floor one last time at the State competition in Watertown.

Just last week, the team danced their hearts out at ESD in Brookings and had their best showing yet—placing 5th overall, with an incredible 3rd place in Hip Hop and 4th place in Poms! The first few meets this year were strong, but there was a stretch in the middle where they had to dig deep. Exhaustion, school demands, and late nights on the road can take their toll on both athletes and coaches.

Then came State this weekend—one final chance to give it everything they had. The girls were fierce and focused, leaving it all out on the floor. Competing against some of the best teams in South Dakota, many of whom train together year-round, our young team held their own—earning 9th in Poms and 8th in Hip Hop out of 16 teams. That’s something to be proud of.

For Willow, this season was full of growth. She worked hard, gained confidence, and already has her sights set on new skills and tricks she wants to master for next year. Saying goodbye to the seniors is always tough, especially knowing that some of her closest friends will be moving on next season.