Lancer Dancers Bring Home Hip Hop Title

by The Editors on February 16, 2011

Lancer Dancers Hip Hop Dance

Carlsbad High School’s Lancer Dancers brought home a Hip Hop National Championship and a bronze medal in Jazz from The National Dance Team Championships held February 6-7, 2011 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. But it wasn’t all easy. No, no, no. Let’s just say there were issues.

The Lancer Dancer’s early morning flight on Thursday was cancelled, and the team was told they wouldn’t be able to get another flight for their large group until just hours before the competition would start. Everyone scrambled and the team ended up having to change airlines and carpool up to Orange County in order to get a flight late on Thursday. Due to so many flight cancelations, the flights that could get out were so full, the team’s carry on bags with their costumes in them had to be checked in. Captain Lani Yamanaka said,” The storm was a nightmare! We didn’t know if we would make it in time for the competition or if our costumes would get lost. I was thinking, we might be competing in what we had on at the airport.”

But they made it. Congrats to the Lancer Dancers. Follow the jump for all the details on their spectacular trip. . .
Carlsbad Lancer Dancers win National Championship in Hip Hop and win Bronze Medal in Jazz at Disney World. The National Dance Team Championships took place Feb 5 & 6 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. Over 600 high school teams from around the country qualified to compete in front of over 10,000 spectators at a nationally televised competition on ESPN.
Thousands of high school dance teams nationwide compete year round at regional competitions in the hopes of making it to the championships, but the field narrowed down to 600 making the trip to Orlando last weekend.

The road to nationals for these teams is one that takes many years of training. Most Lancer Dancers have been taking lessons before they started kindergarten. The hard work and training are just part of the equation, it also takes a lot fundraising to pay for the costs of travel, competition, costumes, and choreography. Coach Laura Nares said, “We couldn’t do this without the support of the community, they have been wonderful and we dedicate this victory to them.”

The road to the national championships was complicated by the monster storm that crippled air travel last week. The Lancer Dancer’s early morning flight on Thursday was cancelled, and the team was told they wouldn’t be able to get another flight for their large group until just hours before the competition would start. Everyone scrambled and the team ended up having to change airlines and carpool up to Orange County in order to get a flight late on Thursday. Due to so many flight cancelations, the flights that could get out were so full, the team’s carry on bags with their costumes in them had to be checked in. Captain Lani Yamanaka said,” The storm was a nightmare! We didn’t know if we would make it in time for the competition or if our costumes would get lost. I was thinking, we might be competing in what we had on at the airport.”

This year’s Championship team started the year as a Cinderella Story. Coach, Laura Nares, was hired the week before tryouts and of the 12 member team, 8 girls are brand new, 5 of whom are Freshman. Lancer Dancer Keara Veran said, “Only one of us on the entire team has more than a year of experience on Lancer Dancers”.

Without much rest the Lancer Dancers finally arrived in Orlando, rallied and got to work. The team competes in two categories Varsity Jazz and Hip Hop. Their Jazz number won their division and advanced directly into the finals, skipping semi-finals. In hip hop again the team advanced directly into the finals after winning their division. Camille Posard said,”When we walked off that stage we knew we had given it our all and left nothing back. We were all crying we were so proud we did our best hours before the results. The Championship White Jacket and medals were just the sprinkles on top!”.

{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

Lisa February 16, 2011 at 2:20 pm

Thanks Carlsbadistan for covering good news in the community! Not every town can boast they are the home of a National Championship Team, much less an 8 time National Championship Team. Great job CHS Lancer Dancers!

Jay February 16, 2011 at 2:36 pm

Thank You Carlsbadistan for covering this story. Sounds like this team not only had the support of their parents, friends and school but also the community of Carlsbad. What a wonderful community we live in! Congratulations to the Carlsbad High School Varsity Team the Lancer Dancers on your 8th National Title!

Jake February 16, 2011 at 3:44 pm

It takes a Village….Carlsbad Village to make this magic happen. We have a lot to be proud of!

The girls repesented their hometown with great poise and passion. Everyone at the competition commented about what great examples they were regarding their team spirit, their support of each other and their technical abilility. The girls in turn, talked about their coach, choreographers and the support they received back at home.

They are great examples of what our town’s future holds!

Donna and Cole Posard February 16, 2011 at 6:52 pm

We are Camille Posard’s grandparents. We have always been enormously proud of Camille. Her participation in Lancer’s Dancer’s 20ll event and their being National Champions just add’s to her wonderful list of accompishments.

james marmack February 17, 2011 at 8:47 pm

Laura Nares rocks !

Bay April 24, 2011 at 8:43 am

Congratulations! Now, what was the piece of music used in the Jazz dance category? Thx!

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