The Wayne Blue Devils Dance Team competed at the Nebraska State Cheer & Dance Competition in Grand Island on Feb. 20 in Class C1, performing routines in high kick and hip hop.
The Blue Devils gave "a stellar performance" with each dance, placing fifth out of 17 teams in hip hop. The team also placed third in high kick, even with one dancer unable to perform due to illness.
The team of 14 dancers includes five juniors — Adrienne Anderson, Kennasyn Blecke, Jacen Hasemann, Josie Ley, and Elle Powicki; five sophomores — McKaeya Becker, Norah Davis, Caylie Hopkins, Anna Naeve and Mallory Redden; and four freshmen — Olivia Brandow, Callen Gamble, Courtney Roeber, and Karla Wynia.
They are coached by Halley Carroll and Courtney Marksmeier with Elite Dance Center in Wayne.
Fans can catch these state dance routines and more at the Blue Devils Dance Team’s annual Spring Show for the public on Sunday, March 9 at 5 p.m. at the Wayne High Gym. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $5 per adult and $3 per student in K-12. The dance team is also coaching a clinic that day for elementary school dancers, who will then perform at the Spring Show.
The Wayne Blue Devils Dance Team regularly performs at home football and basketball games. Practices are held at 6 a.m. during the week starting in August and leading up to the state competition in February. The dance team is completely self-funded, which means it does not receive funding from the school. The team holds several fundraisers throughout the year, including a car wash in August, a football tailgate, and split-the-pot raffles at football and basketball games. Funds raised cover uniforms, music licenses, travel expenses, and more. Special thanks to Hasemann Funeral Home for sponsoring this year’s state dance meal.
The Wayne Blue Devils Dance Team thanks the community, Wayne Community Schools, and their families for such tremendous support all year long.
