The Aledo Bearcat Dance program wrapped up its season with a bang last month, and coach Emily Robison said, by all indications, the future is bright indeed.
The varsity team competed in the Marching Auxiliaries of America (MA) Dance competition in late February at Birdville High School, where it took first place in Hip Hop, and second place in the Jazz, Contemporary and Pom categories.
Robison said it was a great effort from her varsity team and for the 2023-24 campaign as a whole.
"The varsity dance team performed extremely well this competition season," Robison said. "We were up against some very strong teams, such as the Birdville High School officers, Colleyville officers and team, and Midlothian team.
“Our placement for our team routines surpassed my expectations, especially receiving seventh place team overall out of the entire competition (at Birdville). Overalls are out of all teams at the competition regardless of size or class, so I was incredibly impressed with the varsity team."
Robison said that effort gave the program a boost moving forward.
"I would say this year's team and placements have been one of the best our team has had,” Robison said. “This year we were up against a lot of strong dance teams, and we held our own. I was super impressed and happy at our first competition when the Varsity dance team beat Sachse High School and won Grand Champions for the Medium Select Team. In addition, we won second runner-up overall Select Team."
Varsity Head Dance Captain Grace Garrett reflected on the season as a whole with great pride and a sense of accomplishment.
“This year with the dance team has been such a success,” Garrett said. “We have a great team of hard-working girls who support and uplift each other. Although the competition days were long and hard, they created so many memories. All the early practices and long hours paid off.”
It paid off for the subvarsity squads as well, as Robison said her younger teams also had strong showings in 2023-24 and made her optimistic for the coming years.
The Bearcat junior varsity team, for instance, finished out strong in 2024 at the American Dance/Drill Team (ADTS) Metroplex competition on Feb. 17 at Mansfield High School.
“They performed so well and received first runner-up Best in Class in the JV team,” Robison said. “Our JV program continues to grow and flourish, and with the addition of our middle school teams, our JV team will continue to thrive."
Junior varsity dancer Jaycie Carr was selected as the Solo Winner of the American Metroplex Spectacular competition.
Robison said it has been a privilege to watch the Aledo junior varsity and both middle school teams compete this year, and said that each team has “worked so hard.”
The Aledo Dance coach said all of her teams continue to make good progress and said much of that starts at the top.
"The development of the dance program in Aledo has come such a long way in a short amount of time, so I am extremely blessed to witness the greatness in our program,” Robison said. “All of our coaches are dedicated, passionate educators who rise to any challenge to ensure our students and teams are successful."
Aledo and McAnally Middle School tryouts will run from March 25-28.
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