Dance team competes twice, takes first place
PELLA — The Central College dance team, which includes Prairie City resident Kassi Adams, earned two first-place trophies in their second year competing at the Tommie Invitational hosted by the dance team of the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, Nov. 22.
The team entered dances in the hip hop, jazz and pom categories. The squad, under the direction of head coach Cindy Wilson and assistant coach Mary Vaske, took first for the second year in a row in hip hop and pom categories. They placed fifth in jazz. Other teams competing included Augsburg College, College of St. Benedict’s national team, College of St. Benedict’s regional team, College of St. Catherine, College of St. Scholastica, Hamline University, Ripon College and St. Mary’s University.
On Dec. 4, the team competed at the Iowa State Dance Team Association’s dance competition at Veteran’s Auditorium in Des Moines. They placed first in the hip hop category for the fourth consecutive year, second in pom and received a fourth place in the jazz competition. The annual Central College Dance Classic will be Saturday, Feb. 13, in P.H. Kuyper gymnasium at 7 p.m. with special guests from Newton, Indianola and PCM High Schools as well as dancers from Steppin’ Out Dance Studio.
Adams is a graduate of PCM High School and a junior at Central College.
Other members of the dance team include Des Moines native Shelby Eckardt, Greenfield native Megan Mitchell, Grinnell native Jamie Lloyd, Indianola native Dana Baker, Iowa City native Kristen Nerad, Lucas native Tara Prine, Martelle native Jenny Baxa, Pella natives Cassie Elsloo and Mollie Kingma, Prole native Chanelle Hendrickson, Wapello native Jenny Schwenker and Webster City natives Joa Hayes and Jen Vande Zande.
