The Cathedral Catholic High School dance team recently had a big opportunity to travel to the WCE 2026 Dance Team Nationals on March 5-7 and compete against many other talented teams. For our school, this was an extremely big moment because it showed how hard our dance team has been working to get up to this point. Students, teachers and families were all very proud to see our school represented at such a big competition.

Before going to nationals, the team spent a lot of time practicing after school. Dance takes a lot of teamwork, and the team practiced consistently to make sure their routines would be flawless. Zoe Hibbits, a sophomore on the dance team said, “We spent countless hours cleaning our dances, practicing stamina, reviewing film and much more to prepare for nationals. Amongst all the hours practicing and perfecting our routines we also had several moments spent binding and training in our dance classes.” Their coach also helped them improve to the best they could so they could perform when the big day came.

When it was time to travel to nationals the team was super excited but also nervous. Brooke Szekeres, a junior on the team said, “One of the hardest parts about getting ready is the long hours we have leading up to nationals.” The competition was full of teams from many different schools, and our dancers got to witness many fun and creative routines. Even if it might have felt somewhat nerve-racking to perform in front of such a big crowd and judges, our team still did amazing staying focused and confident.

When it was time to perform, the team gave it their all! Their routine was so energetic and fun to watch. According to CCHS Dons Athletics,“Their artistry and poise were a testament to the countless hours of hard work and preparation leading up to this event.” The dancers showed strong technique and great teamwork throughout the performance. Going to nationals was not just about winning though. It was also about being able to represent our school community and showing school spirit. All the dancers were able to make so manny memories, grow as a team, and also learn from other dancers. Bianca Santomauro, a senior on the team said,“We have had lots of team bonding, but we also just support each other during practices, cheering each other on and uplifting one another.”

Overall the trip to nationals was an amazing experience for our Cathedral Catholic dance team and something our school will remember for a long time.