The Life of a Dancer: Lamar Dance Theatre Takes on Competition at Trendsetters

Lamar Dance Theatre works diligently day and night to perfect every turn, chassé, and pirouette. With competition on the horizon, the pressure is on as LDT strengthens every move while balancing both practices and rehearsals from Lamar’s most recent musical, Legally Blonde. They were in preparation for Officer Jazz, Officer Pom, Officer Contemporary, Contemporary Duet, Team Jazz, Team Pom, and Team Hip Hop. While the entire team worked tirelessly for success, the officers faced an extra challenge by mastering a brand-new stunt with little time for perfection.

Shayla Haque, LDT Officer, explains to us that, “When we first got our choreography, we were unsure if we would be able to get it down by competition day. There were many mistakes along the way, but through trial and error, we managed to pull together an effortless stunt.” When the morning of competition day arose, nerves and excitement were an understatement for these dancers. All of their precise and hard work would come into play today. Unfamiliar faces crowded the gym as they walked in with their tassel jazz uniform and their bright red lip.

Shayla Haque and Olivia Nitsch won the Duet event at Trendsetters. (Photo: Karen Juarez)

Before the dances started, “good luck” was spread around from team to team, befriending all of their fellow competitors. The time had come for them to set foot on the dance floor. The applause echoes loud before the silence settles in and the final nerves crawl into place. Then, that all fades away as the music strikes on, and their dance moves flow without a second thought. Hours pass like seconds as they complete each dance with passion and execution. As everyone's performances conclude and all the dancers gather up, everyone is eager to hear the judges' scores and the awards they might receive.

Paulina Delfin, LDT dancer, informs us that, “I felt we all did great in every single one of our dances. Mistakes were made, but that is a part of every single competition. This was a great opportunity for me and my team to dance and show what we’re capable of, and I am thankful for it.” Relief spreads across everyone's face, as LDT took home multiple titles for every dance. They won numerous awards, including Duet Winners, Super Sweepstakes, Best in Class, and Award of Excellence.

LDT poses in celebration after a long day of competition. (Photo: Karen Juarez)

Ms. Seals, Coach of LDT, exclaims, “I am incredibly proud of LDT. They have handled so much while also preparing for competition season with dedication and resilience. Their hard work, focus, and commitment never wavered. They truly deserved every award they received, and I am excited to see all that they accomplish at our next one.”

The journey starts again in preparation for the next competition, but there is no doubt about it that LDT will succeed with flying colors and continue to proudly represent Lamar’s good name.