Aptos High Dance Team, under the guidance of first-year coaches Tanee Taylor and Alexis Valoroso, is making moves on a national level.
Juniors Amelia Valoroso (left) and Bella Garvey
These professional and competitive dancers have proven that Santa Cruz County is home to some serious talent.
Many will go on to compete and perform at universities.
Dance teams compete under the auspices of the United Spirit Association — USA — and USA Dance.
Here are some highlights of the season:
- Bella Garvey was named the super sensational dancer at USA Dance camp.
- Dancers competed at 3 USA regional competitions and attended Aptos’ first national competition in 7 years in Anaheim.
- Aptos Dance Lyrical team went undefeated at the regional USA Dance competitions
- Aptos Dance Extra Small and Large Hip Hop each placed 1st at one regional competition.
- All four dances qualified for the championship level for the national competition — first time for the team.
- Soloists Amelia Valoroso (placed 1st at 1 regional competition), Bella Garvey (placed 1st at 2 regional competitions), Zoey Williams (placed 1st at 1 regional competition), Sienna Ybarra and Mia Trujillo placed in the top 10 at the USA Dance competitions.
- Bella Garvey and Amelia Valoroso, both juniors, made it to the finals at nationals. Amelia placed 10th in her division nationally. Bella placed 7th in the highest division nationally and hopes to be recruited onto a nationally ranked college dance team.
- Lyrical Team placed 6th on a national level.
Dani Delgadillo is assistant coach. It is also her first year.
Aptos High Dance lyrical team with coaches after placing 6th in the nation.
Asked about the team’s achievements, Taylor said, “I think the thing we would attribute to the team’s success is the dancers’ willingness to try anything new we threw their way. Alexis and I have a really big vision of the dancers at Aptos and beyond having the same opportunities provided to other athletes and we really ramped up the expectations of them and ourselves to begin to make this vision come to life.”
She continued: “Every single dancer on the team had to do things that were out of their comfort zone and they not only worked hard but did it with a positive, supportive attitude. We are so grateful to have had such an incredible team for our first year as coaches.”
Tryouts for 2023-2024 are scheduled for April 26 and 28. Coaches are looking forward to another successful season.
The Aptos High Dance Team at the winter showcase, performing a hip hop dance.