The Sunnyvale Sun
Cover Story
Winning Moves
Local team dances its way to the top
By Tiffany Carney
School is closed for winter break, but Monta Vista High School's Marquesas dance team is in the gym, hard at work.
The team is practicing its choreography for the United Spirit Association Dance Drill Nationals, scheduled to begin March 7 in Anaheim. Marquesas dancers have made it to the finals the past seven years, winning national titles in the competition's kick division in 2005 and 2006.
"I think it is a combination of the talent and personality of the girls on the team," says Lesley Blumenthal, the team's 26-year-old head coach.
"You have a lot of students who are very committed to what they do and they are willing to work very hard and be the best at what they do.''
The 22 girls practice in groups allowing others to identify where toes are not pointed and turns are not together.
"Imagine you are at competition," says Blumenthal, as the girls perform each eight-count of their routine.
Two hours a day, three days a week, the team meets after school to practice its routines, from the beginning of the school year until after the final competition in March.
Blumenthal , who took classes in ballet, tap and jazz from the age of 3, brings her experience to the team as the coach for the second year.
"I want you to feel each other's energy," she says, as her voice echoes through the gym where the team's previous championship banners hang above them.
The team competes in five divisions: small, medium and large size divisions and lyrical and kick style divisions. The team consistently demonstrates excellence in the kick division.
"The focus is on a variety of kicks and kick technique," Blumenthal says, including kick-lines, standalone kicks and kick-turns set to music.
Although Blumenthal leads practice, the girls offer individual and team feedback for each routine.
"We clarify our choreography, while at the same time inputting our own styles into the moves," says Carolyn Chang, 15, a freshman dance member.
Blumenthal says the girls hold each other responsible with constructive criticism.
"Their ability to take critiques, and to still have that positive attitude and really work hard, contributes to their success," says Hillary Maxwell, 24, first-year assistant coach.
Each competition routine, created by hired choreographers, involves turns, leaps and kicks that vary in difficulty, speed and music. Blumenthal says each of their five routines challenges the girls to learn new dance styles.
"It is challenging at times," says Carolyn, adding that she is still having a lot of fun.
Auditions are held at the end of April for the following year. Each girl learns a piece of choreography and then performs it in front of a panel of judges for the open positions.
"They are really talented and a lot of them come in with years and years of dance experience," Blumenthal says. But auditions also bring in girls with little or no experience.
"You don't have to be the perfect dancer, but if you can learn and be taught, then we will take you," says Blumenthal .
Her favorite part of being a coach is watching the girls improve. "The improvements the girls make over the years is so impressive and so inspiring."
Blumenthal credits Lori Graham for building such a strong dance program. Graham spent nearly eight years setting the standard for the award-winning team and still teaches dance classes on campus.
Graham made sure the girls knew when joining the team they were committing to attend every practice and make dance their top priority.
"[Graham] instilled those values in the team, so the older members teach the newer members every year that is what is expected of them," Blumenthal says.
"This team has really impressed me with their focus and their dedication," Maxwell says. "We have to kick them out of the dance room at the end of the day or else they would stay and practice even longer."
As captain of the team, senior dancer Gabi Drusinsky says dance has been a key element of her life for the last four years.
"When we don't have practice, then it is strange, like something is missing," Drusinsky says. "Not only am I a part of the team, but the team is a part of all of us."