Competition-ready!

As the Luvabulls began their dance practice for this school year, they also began practicing for the National Dance Team Championship (NDTC) and are ready to show the world just how good they are.   

The Luvabulls’ varsity team will leave for the warm, sunny skies of Orlando, Florida, January 29, 2025, according to coach Kimberly Synowiecki. The team got to this point by winning a Superior trophy during summer camp. Synowiecki added that the team will be participating in the Hip-Hop and Game Day categories. 

As much as the Luvabulls are excited to go to Nationals, they are also busy doing a lot of preparation. Recently they completed choreographing their routine for the competition, and now they are just working on perfecting it. 

Luvabull sophomores said they are very excited to go to the competition since it will be their first. 

Everyone on the team is also thrilled to visit Orlando. 

Although they are excited about these things, one thing they are not too excited about is for the season to end because after Nationals, the season will be close to finished.  

The team is preparing for Nationals both individually and as a team.  

One strategy they are using is constructive criticism; this involves finding ways to help teammates improve their routines rather than focus on what their teammates are doing wrong.  

So far, the hardest thing for sophomore Kenya Salgado Gomez is keeping up her confidence while dancing. Although this is her second year on the team, she wants to focus on the audience without losing her confidence. 

One of the ways the Luvabulls have been preparing themselves for the competition is by putting in more effort and challenging themselves.  

Junior Ava Yang, one of the Luvabulls’ team captains, said she has also been working to help others improve their routines. 

“I always inspire everyone to be better,” Yang said. “We are so good but could always be better.”  

Teammates sharing ideas on what they could do better helps them stay positive because they know that they support each other. 

Sanchez said that “spending time together during camp has helped because we get to make connections.” 

Yang agreed and said she has made many bonds with people she would have never thought she would.  

Sanchez and Salgado stated they have improved a lot since their freshman year and that they have learned new tips and tricks. 

As captain, Yang said she also gets to see what is happening behind the scenes.  

One of the most important behind-the-scenes issues is figuring out ways to raise money for the team as heading to Orlando will be quite expensive. Yang added that acting as a captain forces her to think outside the box especially for the competition.  

Yang along with everyone else said they are excited for the competition and Orlando and that they are all preparing together and in their own ways for a challenging competition.