Mepham kickline dances to nationals

The Mepham High School kickline team, the Pirettes, capped another season full of accomplishments at the National Dance Alliance Championship in Florida.

Courtesy Kerry Dennis

The Pirettes placed fourth in the pom competition at nationals.

Courtesy Kerry Dennis

Coaches noted that the girls’ success in 2015 and in recent years was the product of a team tradition of self-motivation.

Courtesy Kerry Dennis

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Although the weather was warm and balmy for the National Dance Alliance Championship in Orlando, Fla., March 6 to 8, it didn’t distract the 25 members of the Mepham High School kickline team.

Senior captain Stephanie Roth said the squad stayed up late watching videos of dance routines and rethinking their choreography, while squeezing in extra practices in their hotel rooms whenever they could to perfect their routines.

The girls’ hard work paid off. The team placed fourth in the pom competition, earned a sportsmanship award and ranked 17th of 43 squads from around the country in what their coaches said was an extremely competitive jazz dance contest. But Roth said the girls didn’t need trophies to affirm their success.

“We came here and did exactly what we wanted to do,” she said. “The whole team was so dedicated. This year felt a little closer to my heart than other years because everyone was just so determined.”

The Pirettes capped another season full of accomplishments with their performance at nationals. Coaches Kerry Dennis and Jackie Geller noted that the girls’ success in 2015 and in recent years was the product of a team tradition of self-motivation.

Dennis and Geller have coached the squad for seven years. In that time, the team has been invited to the NDA Championship four times, including consecutive bids in 2014 and 2015. The girls also continue to collect medals at Scholastic Kickline Championship competitions, which are often held at Nassau Community College.

“I think that the consistency comes from the fact that when they are successful year after year, it drives them to want to keep the legacy alive,” Dennis said. “Part of the reason why they’re so successful is that they’re also one of the hardest-working groups of individuals I’ve ever seen.”

Dennis said the girls were willing to do whatever it took to succeed at nationals, including switching their choreography at the last minute in order to please the judges. Many teams hire professional choreographers for the competition, but not Mepham. The Pirettes’ three captains design their routines, with help from their teammates.