WATERTOWN — The Woodland dance team finished second at the Naugatuck Valley League dance championship Feb. 11 at Watertown High.
Wolcott finished first.
“Taking second felt great, the girls worked hard and we were all thrilled to be recognized,” Woodland dance coach Marisa DeCola said. “Wolcott took first place, and they are a fantastic team and extremely tough competition.”
This is the first year dance has been recognized as a varsity sport. Last week’s event was the first NVL dance competition. Eight teams participated, including Naugatuck High. The Greyhounds finished seventh at the competition.
Naugatuck coach Donna Gomes said she’s very proud of her girls, who are beginners when it comes to dance. Although they didn’t win, Gomes said, the girls had fun and enjoyed themselves.
“They did a phenomenal job for coming together as a group of beginners and competing for the first time at NVLs,” Gomes said.
Each team performed two dances from four genres — jazz, pom, kick and hip hop — at the competition. First and second place were awarded based on the total points of both dances.
Woodland performed a kick and jazz routine, while Naugatuck did a pom and hip hop routine.
An All-NVL dance team was also named at the competition. Woodland dancers Kristen Cullen, Alyssa Parrella and Casey Rioux were named to the team.
“The team performed well,” DeCola said. “The girls were so excited and had a ton of energy on the floor.”
There is another dance competition Saturday at Quinnipiac University in Hamden and the state competition will be Feb. 28.
