On May 11th, Charter’s Dance Team made a successful return to the competitive scene, at this year’s Hype Competition. After a long hiatus from competing, this marked the team’s first competition in over five years.
Held in Boca Raton, the event featured countless lyrical, contemporary, and hip-hop numbers from dance studios all across Florida. However, Charter’s team stole the show with a medley of Beyonce hits, featuring songs such as “Freakum Dress” and “Crazy in Love.”
Moments before stepping onto the stage, the team huddled together in anticipation and excitement. Nervous smiles and words of encouragement were exchanged, while some dancers mentally ran through the choreography, visualizing each step.
“I was definitely nervous before going on, since it was the first time this team has competed in so long. I could feel the energy and excitement from everyone, and we always hype each other up before performing, so everyone was just really excited,” explained Sophomore Gabrielle Jarvis, who has been on the team for two years.
From the moment the music started, the team’s synchronization and passion were notable. The routine opened with “America Has a Problem,” choreographed by Senior Sienna Garro, setting a fierce tone for the rest of the routine.
After moving through songs such as “Run the World (Girls)” and “Freakum Dress,” the final number, “Crazy in Love,” featured explosive energy from all of the dancers, ending the routine on a passionate note.
While sitting through the awards ceremony, the team erupted in celebration as their number was called up to receive multiple awards. The team’s hard work paid off, as they won three prestigious awards: first place in their category, an overall platinum award, and a Best Choreography award.
“We hadn’t competed in years, so winning was a huge accomplishment, and it makes me feel so proud of all the hard work the team has put in,” said Lucia Montalvo, the team’s manager.
The team had been meticulously planning for this competition since January, dedicating countless hours to perfecting their routine. Each week leading up to this day brought several practices as the team tirelessly worked on perfecting every detail, from synchronization to facial expressions. Finally, the team’s final practice of the year was held the day before the competition, which only made the team more excited for the next day to come.
With their recent success, Charter’s Dance Team is looking ahead to the future with renewed enthusiasm and ambitious plans for next year. “Being able to compete with a team I love was such a fun experience,” expressed Montalvo. “This team is so special and I can’t wait to see how much further we’ll go in the future.”
