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  • Floyd Central senior dancer Heather Copas performs with her teammates during a dress rehearsal Tuesday evening in front of friends and family. Staff photo by Kevin McGloshen

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  • The Floyd Central Dazzlers perform a dress rehearsal of their pom-pom routine Tuesday evening in Floyds Knobs. The dance team is preparing for the National Dance Team Championships in Orlando, Fla. Staff photo by Kevin McGloshen

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  • Members of the Floyd Central Dazzlers prepare for a dress rehearsal Tuesday evening inside the school's gymnasium. Staff photo by Kevin McGloshen

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  • The Floyd Central Dazzlers say a little prayer before performing before a crowd of friends and family Tuesday night. Staff photo by Kevin McGloshen

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  • Floyd Central Dazzlers coach Todd Sharp welcomes a crowd gathered inside the school's gymnasium Tuesday evening for a dress rehearsal of his team's two routines. Staff photo by Kevin McGloshen

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January 31, 2012

Dance team hopes to dazzle judges at nationals

Dazzlers vying for 10th consecutive championship

BY LEAH TATE sports@newsandtribune.com

FLOYDS KNOBS — After dancing to nine consecutive national titles, the Floyd Central High School Dazzlers dance team is on their way to compete for their 10th.

The Dazzlers will face nearly 100 other dance teams from across the country competing in the 2012 National Dance Team Championship semifinals in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 4. The finals will be held the following day on Feb. 5, and will be broadcast on ESPN beginning in March.

The 23-member Dazzler dance team has endured year-round, early-morning conditioning and daily practices in preparation for the nationals, and the team said they hope it's enough to secure another national championship title.

“All the dedication, hard work and the way our coach pushes us has led us here,” Jenna Bain, Dazzler and Floyd Central senior said. “We're working really hard to accomplish the 10th championship.”

The Dazzlers will compete in two categories, varsity pom and hip hop. They will be judged on synchronization, speed, difficulty and what the Dazzlers are known for — jumps and athleticism.

Mallory Clark, Dazzler Captain and Floyd Central senior, said she attributes the Dazzlers' success to coach Todd Sharp, who team members said is more like a big brother.

“He can turn someone who can't dance into a national champion,” Clark said.

The Dazzlers hold the most championship titles in the nation for the large varsity pom division.

Sharp said he almost feels guilty for wanting another championship title. He said no other team has made it past four consecutive wins.

“We've been wearing the crown for nine years,” Sharp said. “This is a privilege most people will never get the chance to have.”

Sharp said the girls hardly have time for a social life outside of dancing, with practice requiring a minimum of two hours a day, four days a week, and early-morning strength training with personal trainers before school. The workload is even more increased in the weeks prior to nationals.

“These girls do everything expected of them,” Sharp said. “I want this win for them for the sacrifices they've made.”

Sharp said personally the win would be a vindication of sorts for him, proving to the school and public that a girl's team with a male coach can win year after year.

Sharp said although families and friends of the team are overwhelmingly supportive, being on the top can sometimes welcome haters — which the Dazzlers answered with t-shirts stating “Hate on me, I wish you would” this year. Sharp said the message behind the t-shirts is, “Let the hate motivate.”

The Dazzler family is close-knit with fellow Dazzlers and former Dazzlers understanding, “Once a Dazzler, always a Dazzler.” Clark explains that once you're in the family you're always in the family, and said many former Dazzlers visit during practices and game performances to check out new choreography.

While some of the girls said they want to pursue dance beyond high school with the University of Louisville's Ladybirds dance team — which Sharp also coaches for — others just want to live in the moment.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance,” Clark said.

Sharp said he wants the girls to feel the sense of accomplishment of winning a national title.

“I want the girls to be able to say ‘I’m a national champion,'” Sharp said.

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