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Thursday, Mar 28th

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Back-to-Back wins spark Starlette dancers

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It may be something that Kristy Tiley and her crews of dancers have done before, but winning on consecutive weekends is still a thrill for them.

The Gallup High School Bengal Girls’ Dance Team pulled off that double fairly easily on Jan. 30 and Feb. 6, earning the NM State Grand Championship at the first meet and then repeating at the Spirit of Hope Challenge the following week, despite missing one of their co-captains, Brianna Mortensen, who has been hospitalized recently.

The other team members, alphabetically, are: sophomore Taylor Begay; freshman Chastity Craig; sophomore Anissa Garcia; senior co-captain Mariah Gonzales; freshman Kamea Kerley; sophomore Lucia Kezele; sophomore Mariah Lujan; sophomore Caylie Macias; senior co-captain Mikayla Morales; junior Destiny Touchine; junior Alexis Villalobos; junior Dianna Warren; and freshmen Jasielle Yazzie and Kirsten Yazzie.

In addition to the wins in Hip-Hop and Jazz for the varsity dancers, the two younger groups also had spectacular outings last weekend. The Rhythmettes (Fifth through ninth grades) and the Dazzlers (First through fourth grades) both won in each category for their age group.

Solo dancers for the two younger groups also fared well as Mia Carabajal (first), Julia Romero (third), Amaya Sanchez (eighth) and Jordan Kraus (tenth) placed in Junior Jazz (Rhythmettes), while Carabajal (first, again), Alyssa Gonzales (second), and Raelynn Sisneros (third) swept the Junior Hip-Hop category.

Heaven Lee was first in the Mini (Dazzlers) Solo Jazz, while Tiana Tom and Malayzia Kennedy were first and second, respectively, in the Mini Hip-Hop category, and MelaRay Romero was first in the Mini Dance Solo Open division.

Other team performers for the Starlette Rhythmettes are, alphabetically: Kairi Garcia; Kapricia Greene; Christina Herrera; Bianca Jimenez; Kaylah Lee; Alvina Livingston; Alexia Lujan; Meleri Lujan; Madisen Martinez; Jaden Palochak; Maggie Rose; Jalynn Sais; Kristen Sampson; Haley Six; Kiera Skersick; Lillie Swatzell; Camryn Villalobos; Maurie Villalobos; and Jordan Watson.

Other team performers for the Starlette Dazzlers, alphabetically, are: Estrella Chavarria; Anastasia Dedman; Sofia Diaz; Ariana Dominguez; Nicole King; Anabelle Randolph; Alevia Saucedo; Faith Swatzell; Lee Ann Toledo; and Amy Yazzie.

State competition for the GHS Bengal Girls’ Dance Team will resume on March 5 at the Pit for the UNM Spring Spirit Invitational and conclude on April 1-2 at the Pit for the State Championship. The Starlette Dancers, both Dazzlers and Rhythmettes, will compete on March 12 in Santa Fe and again on March 29 for Parents’ Night at Gallup High School.