The Lisbon Dance team placed high again at state this year, placing second in Class V Pom and third in Class I kick routines at state competition Thursday, Nov. 30.
Coach Amy Scallon-Geis said that the team had participated in three pre-state competitions and performances in Cascade, Cedar Rapids Prairie and Springville this year.
Three solo dancers also competed in the state dance tournament.
“For the first time, Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association (ISDTA) held state qualifiers for soloists in early November with the top ten at qualifiers competing again in Des Moines at the state competition,” Scallon-Geis said. “Seniors Kennedy Baxa and McKenna Nost and sophomore Britton Mason all competed at qualifiers and placed in the top third of dancers and we were thrilled that Britton was a Top Ten qualifier and ended up placing ninth overall in the Class II Solo Competition.”
Scallon-Geis said that the pom routine was to a set of songs with a “Boss” theme and the kick routine this year was to the Kim Possible theme featuring the Kim Possible theme song.
“Every team every year has its own personality and strengths,” Scallon-Geis said. “This team was the most cohesive and self-motivated team I’ve coached. They worked so hard to help each other grow and improve in order to reach the level we needed to be at to be competitive. They worked extremely hard in and outside of practice making them a pleasure to coach.”
Baxa said some of the things she has enjoyed most about the team has been the team chemistry, the responsibility she has learned from dance and how amazing Scallon-Geis has been as a coach.
“Each year, every single team has been so different and I think that’s is what makes each year so special,” Baxa said.
Baxa said that having the ability to perform in qualifiers before the state dance solo competition heled her to feel less stressed, and that by the time the state competition rolled around, she was more able to focus on team routines and cheer on Britton, the top 10 soloist from Lisbon.
“I loved how every single girl on our team was confident this year with both routines,” Baxa said. “This made performing seem so fun. We all trusted each other and knew what we needed to do out on that floor.”
Nost seconded that, noting the confidence the dancers had in both their performances allowed them to peak at state.
“That feeling where everyone on the team is confident is so amazing,” Nost said. “Another thing I enjoyed was awards where we placed third in kick and second in pom. We did not expect to do that well in kick and our reactions will always stay in my mind. “
Baxa said her favorite dances have to be pom, especially how sharp she is able to hit the moves and how in sync the team becomes by the time state rolls around.
Nost also agreed with that assessment of this year’s pom routine.
“We absolutely killed every time we performed it and I could never ever get tired of performing it because it is just so fun and full of moving parts,” Nost said.
“What I am looking forward to the most for the rest of the season is being able to have fun and really take in each moment as my time on the LHS Dance Team is coming to an end,” Baxa said. “This team is very special and I cannot wait to finish off my last season with my teammates.”
Nost said what she has enjoyed most about dance is the sisterhood she and the dancers have had.
When it came to qualifying for state solos, Nost said that it was a harder point system for the dancers, meaning only those who scored 80 points or higher earned a Division I.
“I am so happy I got to do a solo along with Kennedy and Britton because we were there to support each other before and after we performed,” Nost said. “State was so much fun this year, and it was probably one of my most favorite state experiences out of the others I have had.”
Other favorite dances for Nost have been her sophomore year jazz performance, when there were seven people on the team.
“That jazz performance was just so fun and upbeat,” Nost said.
Nost is looking forward to the performances at basketball halftimes and the dance showcase where they get to work with younger dancers.
“I am just so proud of every single person on the team this year,” Nost said. “We have new girls on the team that improved so much from the beginning of the season to now, and getting to see their improvement is amazing. I would like to give a shout-out to Britton Mason that absolutely killed it with her solo at state solos where she placed in the top ten and got to perform again at the team competition where she placed ninth. I am so incredibly proud of her. Kennedy also absolutely killed it at the state competition as she usually does. This year our team has just been full of fun and will give me memories that I will remember for the rest of my life. I am so honored to be a part of a team that I can truly be myself around 24/7”
She also commended Scallon-Geis for her guidance.
“Amy doesn’t seem like just a coach to us, she is like having another best friend, sister, and mom all in one,” Nost said.
The team started practices in June and in August learned the state choreography and have been practicing twice a week to perfect the routines.
The dance team will take a short break until after the New Year, and then be performing at halftime of area basketball games leading up to their dance showcase which will be Saturday, March 2.

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--Submitted photo

Lisbon sophomore Britton Mason placed ninth in Class II solo competition at state.