The Gretna Dance team traveled to Orlando, Florida to compete in the Universal Dance Association’s (UDA) National High School Dance Competition on Jan. 28. UDA’s competition is hosted in Orlando, Florida, and hundreds of high school dance teams compete every year for the title of the best dancers in the nation. Before leaving Omaha, the Gretna dancers expressed confidence in their abilities and were excited to participate in the competition.
Freshman Aubriana Hurt said she was ecstatic and couldn’t wait to see what she and her team could do. With it being her first year, Hurt didn’t know exactly what to expect, however, she said she was looking forward to making the journey with her team.
“I’m excited to experience an actual trip with these girls because the team changes every year,” Hurt said. “You’re never going to have the same team. You’re never going to have the same girls on the team.”
The competition’s scoring is based on two main categories: choreography and execution. Many types of dance are entered in the competition, and the Gretna Dragons were entered in Pom and Gameday. Also at the competition, the Dragon’s cross-town rivals – Gretna East – attended as well.
This trip marked the last time seniors Kenadee Pinkerton and Grace Ricci went to Florida for as high schoolers. The girls have made good memories to look back on during their time with the team, and they said they are hoping that this year’s nationals can be one of those.
“There are lots of emotions running through my head. This is truly the most excited I’ve been about Nationals, but also so sad to say bye to this team,” Pinkerton said in an email from Orlando on the second day of the team’s trip. “We are super confident in our skill and are proud of each other no matter what happens.”
There are several things Pinkerton said she loves about this team and she can’t imagine the year ending. She added that she will never forget this team and the friendships that she has built in her four years on the Gretna Dance Team.
“This team is so special in so many ways. With only ten girls we were kind of forced to get close, but I genuinely can’t imagine it any other way!” Pinkerton said in an email. “We love each other so much and genuinely don’t want the year to end.”
While in Orlando, the dancers visited Disney World and had a fun week of practice with the hope of returning home to Nebraska with a trophy. The girls ended up placing fifth in their division for Game Day.
The Dragon Dance team is comprised of three freshmen– Aubriana Hurt, Shyloh Jones and Faith Winton; three sophomores– Ava Vescio, Brooklyn Miller and Maddie Rausch; two Juniors– Ava Honeyman and Brooke Hamele; and two seniors– Grace Ricci and Kenadee Pinkerton.
