dancing PT Proud
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By Nicole Tafe
The Peters Township Varsity and Junior Varsity dance teams danced their way
to the top at this year’s National Dance Team Championship in Orlando.
he Peters Township Varsity and Junior Varsity dance teams proudly
represented their community in a truly unforgettable experience at this
year’s National Dance Team Championship administered by the Universal
Dance Association in Orlando, Florida.
The Varsity team has been competing in the National Championship for
the past nine years and has earned one first-place National Title, two secondplace titles—one achieved at this year’s competition—three third-place titles
and two fifth-place titles, making them one of the most decorated high school
dance teams in the country.
The Junior Varsity team began attending the National Championship
in 2009 and is not far behind in accolades with two third-place wins, three
second-place titles and this year’s first-place title, making it the first and only JV
hip-hop team in PA to bring home a National Championship title.
The current Peters Township Dance Team (PTDT) was started in 2006 by
Dominique Deliere Schuster and her mother, Barbara Deliere. Both are no
strangers to dance. Current Varsity Head Coach and Choreographer Deliere
Schuster is also Head Hip-Hop Coach and Choreographer at Perfection
All-Stars Cheer and Dance Gym in Eighty Four. She choreographs for many
schools and colleges in the area and has produced both elementary and
collegiate National Championship dances. Assistant Coach Deliere is the
program’s school sponsor for both the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams as well
as a PTHS Spanish teacher, and al so the former PTHS cheerleading coach for
10 years.
When the Junior Varsity dance team was founded in 2009, Ashlee Olivo
took on the role of Head JV Coach and Choreographer. A Senior Account
Executive at KDKA-TV by day, Olivo is also an Allegheny College dance and
cheer alum, Peters Township High School cheer alum and former competitive
dancer. In 2011, Olivo was joined by
Assistant Coach Megan Chicone,
owner of a State Farm Agency in
Peters Township, as well as a
University of Pittsburgh dance
team alum and former
competitive dancer.
From left to right:
Barbara Deliere (Dance Team Sponsor),
Megan Chicone (Assistant JV Coach),
Ashlee Olivo (Head JV Coach),
and Dominique Deliere Schuster
(Head Varsity Coach)
With these highly qualified volunteer coaches, PTDT is different from most
teams across the country. While many teams hire outside choreographers,
the coaches of PTDT do it all themselves — from constructing routines to
selecting and editing music, to choosing and securing costume pieces that
reflect the teams’ theme and styles — making them a unique team and a force
to be reckoned with.
To the coaches, teamwork plays a big part in their coaching style and they
happily accept input regarding choreography and creative tricks from the
dancers. PTDT is especially well-known for athletic and creative tricks, many
of which are uniquely created by the dancers performing them.
In addition to demanding routines, the athleticism of PTDT is no joke.
The group is known in the dance community as being a highly athletic
competitor, and team members are trained not only as dancers, but as athletes
with an emphasis on building character, integrity and confidence. Though
primarily a hip-hop performing team, PTDT members are introduced to many
styles of dance throughout the year in order to enhance their abilities and
improve their technique.
Though all of this may seem intimidating, no previous dance experience
is required to audition for PTDT. There are several members on the current
teams who have had no dance background and many students who show
potential are invited to become alternates, giving them a chance to come to
rehearsals, work with the coaches and enhance their skills. In fact, PTDT
encourages students of different backgrounds to audition for the teams —
from gymnasts to sports players to swimmers — and though the group is
currently composed of all female members, male students are more than
welcome (and encouraged) to audition.
The audition process takes place over the course of a week, and during that
time dancers are taught several routines and skills. On the
last day, an independent, professional panel of judges
scores dancers on the routines and skills learned. The
score sheet allows participants to be judged not only on
routine/skills but also on overall athletic potential.
This year’s open tryouts are scheduled for
May 9- 14. For more information, email
deliereb@pt-sd.org.
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Peters Township | April/May 2016 | icmags.com 73