Huntington Highsteppers Dance
at NBA Game
It takes nerves of steel to perform before nearly 20,000 fans at a sold out NBA basketball game between the New Jersey Nets and the New York Knicks. The Huntington Highsteppers had what it takes when the high school's competitive dance team sprinted out onto the floor and danced during a halftime show.
The Highsteppers are coached by Lora Ayala and Merdith Wipfler. The "Hardwood Challenge" was sponsored by the Nets and their dance team. "The event brought together dance teams from many different states together to be trained by the Nets dancers and then compete for a chance to dance at the halftime show," said Joan R. Fretz, Huntington's district director of fine and performing arts.
The Highsteppers were one of only three teams selected for the finals and a chance to dance during halftime at the huge Prudential Center. "It was a very exciting experience for the girls," Ms. Fretz said.
The challenge format included a 10 a.m. preliminary round competition where dance teams performed their own unique piece of choreography in any style of dance. Routines were limited to 80 seconds. Music had to be submitted to the Nets eight day prior to the challenge.
The Nets dancers held a 90-minute "master class" at 2 p.m. on the center court at the Prudential Center. Participants learned a portion of the hip-hop choreography the Nets dancers later performed during the game with the Knicks.