For just the second time ever, the Manhattan High dance team will take part in a competition when they go to Kansas City next weekend for the Innovative Dance Competition. 

This is the dancers’ first time to go to Innovation, where they will be performing many of the same types of dance they do at MHS sporting events. The team feels like they’ve made good progress since last year, when they went to Newton for a contest. 

“So last year was our first time ever competing in dance through Manhattan High as a sport,” Coach Kayela Holle said. “So I would say like, you know, the progression of the girls is different because they’re a little more prepared because they’ve gone through the process before.” 

The team is really excited as they will get to compete against other girls and studios that share the same passion as them. 

“So we have a jazz, hip hop, contemporary, and POM,” junior Jaira Faustman said, “but the contemporary won’t be performed because it’s not something you perform at a game.”

They’ve spent lots of time practicing and they’ve been performing at the home basketball games for extra practice. 

“We’re upgrading the dances that we are performing,” senior Rilee Ostrom said. “They are going to be shown here at the school at basketball games.”