Keziah Thibodeau danced across the stage, performing her lyrical solo. The crowd felt emotional, and the judges were impressed. They awarded her first place, and her team celebrated

    Led by their captains Thibodeau, Edwards, and LaForge, Poway Dance Project (PDP) competed all day at Desert Oasis High School for their first competition of the year, in Las Vegas on Jan.10.

    The team was excited to show off new dances and skills. They competed against 15 other dance teams from all over the United States and successfully took 1st place in 5 dances: Small dance, Small lyrical, Medium Pom, Medium Lyrical, and Gameday. They also took second place in the Extra Small Group category. 

To prepare for competition, dancers practiced eight to ten hours each day, after-school hours, and at  5 a.m. practices before school on Wednesdays.

 “Fitting dance into my schedule can be very difficult, especially with being involved in other school activities and running my own business. But the best way to balance it all is to prioritize, take it one thing at a time, and reach out for help,” Edwards said.

 Right before the competition, they had a four-hour practice at their hotel. This kept energy and vibes high. A fun memory that stood out to dancers was the random people at the hotel watching them practice who cheered them on.

   “My favorite memory was standing in a circle before our extra small dance and talking about what the dance means to us and how to convey it to the audience. It was really special to us because we all ended up tearing up a little bit and talking about how appreciative we are of each other. It truly represented how close we are as a team, and I was able to show how much I love my teammates; we see each other as family,” Thibodeau said. 

     The team performed seven dances, with Edwards, LaForge, and Thibodeau performing in all of the solos. Thibodeau ended first for her solo in group A solos, and Edwards ended first for her solo in group B solos.

  A PDP tradition before competition is a team dinner the night before the competition at Nacho Daddy..

” This is one of my favorite traditions because it is part of what makes our team so connected, not only in dance but also as friends. Our annual dinner is what gets us into the right headspace as we prepare to compete and dance together at the competition,” LaForge said. 

  They also celebrate at Taco Bell after their performance, whether they win or lose.

The team competes nextat San Marcos High School on Jan.24.