The 14 members of the Perry PULSE Dance team — along with some invited guests — thrilled an appreciative crowd Saturday with a wide variety of performances at their Spring Showcase.
Coach Faye Southward’s squad had just one senior this year, with Lauren Benjamin given the opportunity to highlight her talents in a senior spotlight.
Other PULSE members include juniors Ciera Bronnenberg, Gaby Chavez, Star Love, Samantha Macias and Saydee Strough, along with sophomores Emily Debord, Delaney Eiteman, Madyson Hill, Fatima Hurtado and Lainey Thomason and freshmen Chloe Ballard, Jasmin Gonzalez and Nathaly Ramirez. Junior Katelyn Thomason and freshman Sierra Shore Newton served as managers.
Themed “A Decade of Dance” the 10th annual showcase witnessed the dancers offering routines set to music from the 1930’s through the 2000’s. PULSE members offered seven performances, including the state prop routine “Jive Bunny Mix” and the state pom routine “We Got the Beat” which were the first two numbers the group offered.
The first hour also included the Perry Color Guard and their “What the Water Gave Me” routine, while pre-kindergarten and grade 3-5 girls who attended an earlier clinic joined the PULSE members in “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” respectively.
Audience contests and participation events were sprinkled throughout the showcase, with many taking part in at least one of the offerings.
A bake sale/fundraiser was held during an intermission, with the hoopla routine of “Hazy Shade of Winter” opening the second half of the showcase. The PULSE ladies also performed three numbers learned at the JFK “Just For Kicks” camp: the musical theater/jazz “I Got Rhythm” the hip-hop “Jason DeRulo Mix” and the fun jam high-kicking “Beez.”
The PULSE members were joined by several Perry boys for a coed “Disco Mix” with the traditional glow-light routine — this year set to “90’s Dance Mix” closing the show.
The team earned Division 1 ratings at the State Team contest in pom and prop, both placing third. Bronnenberg and Love were chosen for the All-Iowa Honor Dance Squad and participated Friday at the state girls basketball tournament, with the duo Leap Finalists at the JFK camp while the squad placed second in Home Routine Competition.
Hill and Benjamin both earned Division 1 ratings at the State Solo Contest, with the former 10th overall and the latter 15th.
Girls participating in the dance clinic were (grade follows): Lilia Campos and Edlyn Iben (pre-K), Chloe Butler, Ella Kilts and Kate Schuttler (kindergarten), Ava Belgarde and Jadelyn Hoffman (first), Opal Lingner (second), Mackenzie Kilts and Tayra Lingner (third), Alexandra Aguilar, Allison Cannon, Christina Kanealy, Celine Panama and Denise Rivera (fourth), Sydney Barkley, Emelly De La Cruz and Sarai Jaimes (fifth), Lexi Hall, Molly Moorhead, Nubia Torres and Amarie Taylor (seventh) and Aubree Tasler, Cindy Truong and Quinn Whiton (eighth).
Boys busting out their disco moves were: Brian Amaya, Ben Stika, Anthony Macias, Justin Stammer, Daniel Brinton, Eoin Davis, Jered Narber, Herman Benitez, Tony Burgos, Andy Chic, Chase Archer and Amos Munoz.
