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Here at Grand View, athletics are taken very seriously. Grand View is especially well known for being successful in a numerous amount of sports, especially when it comes to dance. Let’s take a look at the dance team to find out what their secret to success is at the national level.

Grand View’s competitive dance team has had lots of success in the past several years. Last year at the state competition, the dance team placed first in the jazz category. Out of nearly 30 teams in the NAIA, GV’s dance team has qualified for nationals every year it has been competitive. The team’s best finish at National’s was third place.

Even with a large number of girls on the team, this doesn’t stop them from winning. According to senior dancer, Abby Borg, Grand View’s dance team consists of 30 girls, which is more than a typical college team would have.

“I feel like this definitely sets us apart from other schools we compete with at State Competition,” Borg said

Head Dance Coach Stacie Horton and senior dancer Brittany Carlson shared why they think the team has been so successful in recent years. Both believe their success stems from team bonding and the strong relationships the ladies have made.

“The girls do lots of getting to know each other the first few weeks after moving in,” Horton said. The girls have open conversations throughout the year to “build relationships and incorporate games and team building activities through the season,” Carlson said.

While the dancers put in a lot of hard work, Coach Horton is just as much of a reason for the teams’ success.

“… We have excellent coaches who push us to our fullest potential all while wanting the very best for each dancer individually,” Borg said.

Horton said, “I am competitive, I do like to win. But for me, and the athletes that I coach, the experience they have is what is most important to me.”

Although athletics are important, academics always come first in college. Some coaches at Grand View require their athletes to attend study tables or visit the ALT center if they are struggling. However, grades have never been a problem for the competitive dance team.

The dance team is one of the top three teams out of all sports here at Grand View based strictly on GPA.

“It has never honestly been an issue, I don’t have to get on them about grades or anything,” Horton said.

The dance team’s season starts out at the ISDTA State Competition on November 30th. They will look to carry their success from previous years over to this year and place high at the event.