Courtesy of Lauren Nguyen
Smiling proudly, the team stands together and celebrates their awards.Beaming, the dance team officers — juniors Shirina Cao, May Gendeh, Camille Cardona and senior Saejel Thomas — looked out from the United Spirit Association (USA) Dance Nationals stage, taking pride in the culmination of their 2024-25 season. After months of practice, their hard work had paid off.
Accompanied by coach Brandy Fisher, the team traveled to Anaheim from March 20-25 to compete in four routines: pom, jazz, hip hop and contemporary. The team triumphantly placed third in the medium division for both contemporary and pom, an improvement from previous years.
Courtesy of Lauren Nguyen
Sophomore Lauren Nguyen gets lifted up into the air during the team’s contemporary dance.
“Performing pom to a larger crowd was so fun to do with the team,” sophomore Hannah Hwang said. “When we won third nationally, it was a big surprise and honor.”
Day 1 kicked off with officer solos. Each officer took the stage, representing not only their team but also their personal growth and style.
“I’m really proud of how my solo went this season, especially since it was my first year performing one,” Gendeh said. “Making finals was such a rewarding experience, and it showed me how much I’ve grown as both a dancer and a performer.”
Day 2 brought on the group competition, when the team performed four of their group routines. For the freshmen, it was a surreal moment to dance under the bright lights and in front of such a large audience.
Courtesy of Lauren Nguyen
The team strikes a pose as they perform their energetic pom routine.
Courtesy of Lauren Nguyen
Senior Saejel Thomas leads the group in their hype hip-hop performance.
“Coming home with medals and a big third place trophy was definitely the highlight of nationals and the best end to our season,” Thomas said. “I’m so proud of the girls for how hard they worked. Pom was my favorite dance this year, so getting third place my senior year was super special.”
For many freshmen on the team, this year wasn’t just about performing. It was additionally about learning what it means to be a part of a competitive, close-knit dance family.
“The dance team has taught me a lot about perseverance and working through challenges,” freshman Yena Kim said. “While the dance team had ups and downs, I think I grew and learned a lot from the experiences I had with my coach and especially my teammates.”
Although the team didn’t advance to finals — usually reserved for the top two teams — they didn’t let it dampen their spirits. On the final day, they celebrated with a team tradition: an annual trip to Disneyland.
Courtesy of Lauren Nguyen
The team spent a day at Disneyland, ending their Southern California trip.
From competing dances to team bonding, the USA Dance Nationals experience marked a meaningful close to the season — a season built on dedication, teamwork and love for dance.
“Going to Disneyland every year after nationals is definitely the highlight, since it’s a great bonding time with all the girls,” sophomore Chloe Nguyen said.
With a new season around the corner, the team is planning on using the summer to get ready for the next season and welcome new freshmen onto the team. They are already looking ahead, prepared to take the stage again with even more spirit.
“I’m super excited for next season and the things we will accomplish,” sophomore Cathy Yaung said. “We’ve been doing conditioning and technique to prepare for the next season and I’m so excited to have another year with my friends on the team.”
