WORCESTER—Burncoat High School’s Spirit Team, a dedicated group of dancers and musicians made up of students from the school, is hosting a community-driven fundraiser on Friday, Nov. 22, at Luciano’s Union Station in Worcester.
It’s for a very big reason.
This event aims to raise funds to support the team’s journey to the Universal Dance Association (UDA) National High School Dance Team Championships (NDTC) in Orlando, Florida, scheduled for Feb. 2–4, 2025. With their recent accomplishments at the State Championships, the team has secured a prestigious place in the national competition, representing Worcester on a national stage and hoping to bring home honors for both their school and city.
After an impressive performance at the State Championships, the Burncoat Dance Team took home second place in Jazz and third place in Hip Hop. Their exceptional scores earned them a coveted spot at Nationals, solidifying their position as one of the top dance teams in Massachusetts.
Burncoat’s Spirit Team, the only team from the Northeast competing this year, joins the ranks of the best high school dance teams in the country at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, where 52 athletes from Burncoat represent Worcester.
The Spirit Team is part of Burncoat’s renowned Arts Magnet Program, established in 1985 to support students’ artistic and academic growth. The program’s dance and music tracks offer students unique opportunities for development, not only in their craft but also in essential life skills.
Kellie Shea, director of the dance department at Burncoat, attributes her students’ success to the strong collaborative environment the program fosters. “Our program requires students to collaborate with their peers on artistic projects and performances,” Shea explained in an announcement. “It fosters teamwork, communication, and social skills, which are valuable both within and outside the arts context. I’m proud to say that we are the only Spirit Program in the Northeast competing at this national competition this year.”
The BHS Spirit Team’s hard work has culminated in this chance to showcase their talents on a national platform, representing both Burncoat High School and Worcester Public Schools. The team competes in several categories, including Small Varsity Jazz, Small Varsity Hip Hop, and JV Pom, as well as Game Day Live, where the dancers and the Burncoat Pep Band will join forces in a unique combination of dance, cheer, and high-energy band performances.
To make this journey possible, the team is working to meet a fundraising goal of $96,000. Community support is key to making the trip to Nationals achievable, and the November 22 fundraiser promises to be a night filled with energy and local pride.
Organized by Karon Shea Model Management, the event will feature Worcester’s officials, business leaders, and educators as models in a fashion show that combines fun with fundraising.
The annual fundraiser seeks to emphasize the value of Burncoat’s Spirit Team while spotlighting Worcester’s support for arts education. Organizers hope that a large turnout will rally the Worcester community behind the team, inspiring attendees to support these young athletes in their journey to bring national recognition to Burncoat and Worcester.
Got news? Send it to Editor Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org
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