On Feb. 22, the Majestics and Sapphire Dancers competed at the Crowd Pleasers Austin Showcase Competition. Both groups competed successfully and earned numerous awards in Jazz and Lyrical dance categories.

Major highlights included the Majestics winning the “Super Sweepstakes Team” award which required a score of 90 and above, and the line officers winning “Super Sweepstakes Line Officers” and “Showcase Elite.” Sapphire dancers also showed their talent by winning the “Best in Class” awards in Jazz, Lyrical, and Pom and also earning the title of “Grand Champions.”

“I love competition season,” Majestic Kate Leyendecker said. “It is more dance intensive. The stuff we do is real dance, not field dancing.”

Good results don’t appear without hard work though. Before competitions, Majestics and Sapphires had to make sure their routines are flawless.

“As a team we practice every A-day for an hour and a half, working on technique and the dance routines,”Sapphire Dancer Whitney Bell said.

Dance means a lot to these girls. The dance teams require dedication and passion. Many current members on the team plan on continuing dance throughout high school.

“I will definitely continue on the Sapphires dance team next year,” Bell said. “I am proud to graduate as a member in 2015. [I was]  a member for three years.”