Fountain Valley High School’s dance team continues to diligently prepare for their competition season.
The girls, boys, and mixed teams will perform hip hop, jazz and lyrical routines created by coaches Stacy Conley and Tara Pokorney. Kelela Batinga also assists Stacy Conley in choreographing and coaching the dancers while our very own FVHS biology teacher, Jennifer Allen, acts as the advisor.
With ambitious goals in mind, the dance team is working on improving individual performances, in addition to group performances, in order to augment the advancement of the team as a whole.
“We would love to be in USA finals again. It was such an honor,” said hip-hop coach Stacy Conley.
Practices are only twice a week. Therefore, depending on how many teams a particular dancer is on, the hours spent in practice can range up to 8 hours.
“I am very proud of all members, they have been working so hard this year and will continue to work hard to do better at every competition,” said jazz/lyrical coach Tara Pokorney.
Though the dancers admit that there is definitely an air of competition amongst their own ranks, they recognize that the family bond they’ve built is much more important than winning or losing. They continue to push each other to perform at their best, but still remember to enjoy the process.
“We all goof around and have fun once in awhile, but mostly, we’re all dedicated to what we tried out for, and that’s to dance,” said Jane Torpipat (‘15).
Although most dance team members are proud with their results thus far, they acknowledge that their potential has yet to be fulfilled.
“I am not satisfied with the competition results so far,” said Brian Doan (‘14), “I know that our dance team can place much higher.”
Their competition season began Saturday on January 12. They have competed in three competitions so far and it continues on as listed:
FEB 16 & 17 MDD Street Dance SOKA University – Aliso Viejo
FEB 24 USA Regionals FVHS Gym
MARCH 2 CADTD Woodbridge HS – Irvine
MARCH 9 WCE State Santiago HS – Corona
MARCH 15 & 16 CADTD State Glendale HS
MARCH 29 & 30 USA Nationals Segerstrom Arts Center – CM
