The Etowah Dancing Eagles will travel to Columbus on Feb. 12 to compete in the state championships. At last year’s state competition, the Etowah Dancing Eagles won the title of runner-up and hope this year to improve their placement. The team will attend in-person and stay in a hotel for the event. 

“After having higher scores this year than last year and winning our competition last weekend, we have big expectations to do well at state. I’m just so excited to get to actually stay in the hotel with them and get to compete in person with everyone,” Kelsey Cleveland, junior, said. 

This year, the dancers and Coach Brittany Chandler hope to win the first-place title. After many early morning practices at 6 a.m., they are optimistic that they will score and place high. 

“My expectation for this competition is that the girls will leave everything on the floor. I have seven seniors graduating, and I want them to have an amazing, memorable experience,” Chandler said. 

The team will compete in the pom and jazz divisions. The pom routine is more upbeat and engaging with the crowd, and the team will perform at 1:10 p.m. The jazz routine is a heartfelt dance that is sentimental to the senior dancers, and they will compete with this routine at 2:55 p.m. 

“We have put a tremendous amount of work into our state routines. These routines mean a lot to me, especially the jazz given I am a senior, and it is a dance about moving onto the next chapter and feeling ‘at home’ when that certain person comforts you,” Caroline Kapcsos, senior, said. 

So far in the season, the Dancing Eagles have taken part in two competitions: one in-person on Dec. 12 and a virtual competition on Jan. 24 at the Etowah New Gym, hosted by Mill Creek High School. The girls placed first in jazz, second in pom and choreography, and first overall. 

“The team has grown a lot closer this season, and I think we are really prepared for state,” Makhenna Knight, freshman, said. 

To support the Dancing Eagles, attend the event at the Colombus Trade Center, and tickets are only sold online. Tickets can be found here for $12 a piece.