The San Marcos High School Marquettes have started their competition season on a high note, returning from this past weekend’s competitions with two first place finishes, including a State Championship. On Saturday, January 22, the Marquettes took first place in the Pom Division at the USA Dance Regionals held at Agoura High School. Then the Marquettes followed up the next day by winning the California State Dance Championship in the Varsity Hip Hop Division, held at the Cal State Long Beach University Pyramid.
The Marquettes’ Hip Hop routine was choreographed in part by the Strikers All-Stars, who are a dance crew featured on MTV’s “America’s Best Dance Crew.” The Strikers All-Stars came to San Marcos to work with the Marquettes and teach the group how to “step,” which is a dance move specifically to the hip hop style. “Stepping” involves rhythmic step dancing and clapping, creating its own beat. According to team member Katie Elster, “Stepping is a lot of fun to perform, and it is something we have not done before. We really appreciate the Strikers coming in to work with us. It will only help us down the road as we continue our competition season.”
The entire routine was choreographed by Head Coach Marni Cheverez, who has a long history of dance teaching and choreography in the Santa Barbara area, and also coaches the Emeralds Dance team and The Cartel, a College level All-Star team.
The Marquette Pom team consists of: Anya Aksenov, Rachel Hay-Shipton, Teale Jacobs, Corrie Jimenez, Alyson Marrs, Ana Martinez, Ali McPherson, Becca Melton, Emma Sonsini, and Christy Swatrz.
The Marquette Hip Hop team consists of: Anya Aksenov, Shayna Carroll, Katie Elster, Rachel Hey-Simpson, Teale Jacobs, Corrie Jimenez, Hannah Johnson, Alyson Marrs, Ana Martinez, Ali McPherson, Becca Melton, Natahsa Narang, Emma Sonsini, and Christy Swartz.
The next competition for the Marquettes will be Feb. 26th as they travel to Saugus High School for the USA Dance Hip Hop Regional Competition. They will then be competing at the West Coast Dance Championships at the Universal Amphitheatre on March 5th and finally at the USA Spirit and Dance Nationals March 24th-27th at the Anaheim Convention Center.