Huntington Highsteppers Win at U.S. NDA Championships
The Huntington Highsteppers, the high school’s competitive dance team, captured first place in kickline and earned the Choreography Award at the National Dance Alliance’s U.S. Championships at the Manhattan Center-Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.
The Highsteppers also finished second in pom, third in team performance, which features a routine choreographed and taught by the student captains, and in sixth place in jazz dance (they would have been second, but received a deduction due to a lift that was judged too high).
“Huntington was represented by a group of fine young girls who are all excellent role models,” parent Jeff Pugliese said. “The girls were unbelievable.” Many of the best teams from around the country participated in the championships.
The 2008 NDA U.S. Championship Big Apple, the official name of the competition, clearly put the Huntington Highsteppers on the proverbial map nationally. “The weekend was great in New York City,” co-captain Allison Greenstein said. The victory marks the school’s first U.S. NDA title.
Coached by Lora Ayala and Jen Carafano, the Highsteppers team includes co-captain Allison Greenstein, co-captain Katie Newman, Aliyah Cohen, Stasa Doscas, Alexa Giammarino, Audrey Ann Green, Kerrie Greene, Kara Grossman, Sam Hofsiss, Venice Lagone, Annie Minoff, Samantha Natalello, Emily Bucholtz, Emilie Pugliese, Alisa Sosa, Allison Wieland, Renna Wirchin and Molly Smith.
The team enjoyed their New York City hotel and being able to stay in Manhattan for two nights. “We were fortunate enough to have wonderful weather but even if we didn't the girls would not have minded,” Ms. Greenstein said. “Everyone got along and had a great time with one another and it really showed in their performances.”
The Highsteppers engaged in various fundraising activities to support the trip, including holiday gift wrapping at a local mall, candle sales, car washes and garage sales. It all paid off, as Huntington was one of the only teams nationally to place in every single category of the competition.
In addition to the actual competition, the Highsteppers also had an opportunity to visit Madame Tussauds wax museum, where they had a ball snapping photos of the “celebrities” and later “performing” on American Idol.
“The girls always enjoy hanging out, practicing together and organizing fundraisers, yet this was truly a bonding experience and a bittersweet ending to a fabulous season,” Ms. Greenstein said. “It was very emotional for the girls to realize that the team’s seniors were leaving and that this was really the end.”
The award for innovative choreography, which was given to Ms. Ayala, was the only such one presented during the competition. The team captains choreographed the “team performance” routine, which features a combination of four different dance styles, including kick, pom, jazz and hip hop. Unlike Huntington, not all teams are capable of competing in each category, although about 20 teams filled out each field.
“The seniors really enjoyed their last season and will really miss all of the girls they have become so close with,” Ms. Greenstein said. “They know that the team next year and in years to come will continue to be the best they can be and will succeed and win more first place awards.”
The squad will lose graduating seniors Ms. Greenstein, Ms. Newman, Ms. Natalello, Ms. Lagone, Ms. Hofsiss and Ms. Green. “The girls could not be happier” to have Ms. Ayala and Ms. Carafano as the coaches who led the squad to victory, Ms. Greenstein said.
In earlier regional competitions at Nassau Community College, the Highsteppers also performed well. In the first one the team came in second in dance and third in pom and kick. In the second competition, Huntington finished first in dance, fourth in pom and kick out of 15 teams.
On behalf of her teammates, Ms. Greenstein thanked parent leaders Laura Newman, Stephanie Natalello and Gale Greenstein “for being great chaperones” during the recent trip. The squad carried home five trophies and a banner from the NDA competition, all of which are expected to be displayed at the high school.
The Highsteppers began training last August, attending the four-day UDA camp at Hofstra. Regular practices continued at Huntington High School and the group performed at many football and basketball games.
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