Huntington Highsteppers Prepping for Season

The Huntington Highsteppers are deep into training for the 2023/24 season. The group is the high school’s hip competitive dance team. It performs at school and community events and exhibitions throughout the year before entering various competitions culminating at the national championships in Florida in late winter.

The team is coached by Kristiana Salerno and Paige Tyree Furman and Jeannette Gross. The Highsteppers have a long tradition of excellence and have won local, regional, state and national honors. The squad frequently performs at halftime of varsity football and basketball games. The dancers train and rehearse several times during each week.

This year’s squad features seniors Adriana Abbatiello, Zaida Correal, Camilla D’Anna, Lea Devoe, Ariana James, Raleigh Shuck and Ava Tizzio; juniors Rosie Arner and Alyssa Evans; sophomores Kymora Dorvilus, Kyra Larsen and Anna McCormick; freshmen Gianna Brady, Addison Delfino, Chloe Donovan and Jordyn Gross and eighth grader Emma Stensland.

The team will perform for the entire student body, faculty and staff at the high school’s fall pep rally on Friday, October 6. The squad will also march in the Homecoming Day parade (Saturday, October 7) and perform at halftime of the football game that day as well as participating in several other high school events.

Huntington School Board members have approved a trip for the Highsteppers to the DTU (Dance Team Union) Nationals in Orlando, Florida from February 8-12. Approximately 17 team members and six adult chaperones are expected to comprise the traveling party.

The Highsteppers are planning for the here and now as well as for the future. The program is looking to grow with a club at J. Taylor Finley Middle School.