As Delaney Jackson, Kylie Kahl, Abi Arends, Anna Smith and Raven Tobin stepped onto the stage at the State Spirit Competition on Jan. 28, it all came together.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic  disrupting the last year, the Powell High School dance team excelled at the competition held in Casper. PHS placed second in the jazz dance category with 93.833 points, trailing only Star Valley (98.833 points) in the four-team field.

The girls had no idea of their standing after completing their routine, but they knew they killed it.

“We all hugged at the end because we were so proud of each other,” said Jackson, who’s a senior at PHS. “When we got back up to the stands we were all just saying we didn’t care what place we got because we were so proud of us no matter what.”

Because of dance’s subjective nature, Jackson knew they could realistically be placed anywhere from first to last. But instead, they were second overall, just five points behind first-place Star Valley. 

“I was just extremely proud of what the situation was because we worked so hard for the last few years just trying to get a solid team together,” coach Victoria Danovsky said. 

Like any other sport, the dance team’s season was significantly altered by the pandemic. In addition to mask requirements and social distancing protocols, the state spirit competition was moved up nearly two months, due to scheduling conflicts at the Ford Wyoming Center (formerly known as the Casper Events Center).

But the changes only made the girls work harder. 

“Once the girls got word that season was short, they spent a lot of hours in here trying to prepare for it and get ready and get a routine that’s solid,” Danovsky said. “I feel like we did that. I think they teamed up well, and it was a drama-free atmosphere.”

Jackson has been dancing at Victoria’s School of Dance — Danovsky’s studio located south of Powell — since she was 5. Her experience allowed her to be a leader when the team received news of the pushed-forward state event.

“It was really scary at first, but we helped each other,” Jackson said. “Just being a mentor to them is really fun and watching them grow was so cool.”

From a coaching standpoint, Danovsky’s main emphasis in the months leading up to the competition was perfecting technique. 

“That’s the big thing that they judge us on,” Danovsky said. “I think that for us as dancers, directly, you’re hitting it or not. Watching timing and presentation as well.”

The performance in Casper was the School of Dance’s first live performance since 2019, when a group of girls danced in New York City; the spring recital in 2020 was axed due to the pandemic.

“It was a really great experience to actually have a live audience and dress in costume and walk out there and do their performance,” Danovsky said. “It was the most rewarding atmosphere to be able to see all those kids get to go out and do what they love and perform.”

Though Danovsky admitted the community as a whole isn’t too tapped into the craft, she said would love to see an uptick in youth interest about the sport. She has been teaching dance for 30 years, spending significant time in New York. Now in Powell, her school offers classes in tap, jazz, ballet, modern, lyrical, contemporary, as well as all-boys tap and jazz programs. 

With the school spirit competition complete, the focus for Danovsky and the five dancers will turn to studio events. They hope to host a spring recital despite the ever-changing conditions of COVID-19. And in the summer, dancers are set to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. 

As the focus shifts, Danovsky can’t help but be thankful. 

“I think the team coming together was one of the neatest things,” Danovsky said. “We’ll move forward in the spring season for a hopeful recital.”