The Valkyries, Lynbrook’s dance team, won two titles at the Contest of Champions, a national competition hosted in Orlando, Florida from Mar. 3 to Mar. 8. The team spent their season perfecting the choreography and cleaning their movements, equipping them with the energy and precision needed to win second place in the Kick and third place in the Hip-Hop category.

Kick:

The Valkyries’ signature dance formation is the kick line. Kicking is a stamina-intensive move, as dancers are expected to kick their legs straight in the air repeatedly. This speciality dance was performed with joyful music, exaggerated facial expressions and fast-paced choreography. The dancers donned vibrant, 90’s-style dresses that highlighted the height of their kicks alongside the song “Born To Hand Jive” from the musical “Grease.” The dance was similar to a country-style dance; for example, dancers moved their arms in circular motions to symbolize a lasso. Winning in this category was expected of the dancers, as “Kick” is the team’s distinguishing feature. 

Prior to their competition, the team huddled together to listen to their dance music to internalize their movements. This ritual boosts the team’s spirit, helping them overcome their last minute nerves and jitters. 

Hip-hop:

Clad in black, white and gray outfits, the Valkyries performed as a fierce group that won them third place in “Hip-hop” category. The dancers danced to “Move” by Béyonce, setting the powerful tone of the performance with its strong lyrics and energetic instrumentals. The Valkyries displayed animated facial expressions to amplify the intensity of the dance.

“It was an interesting concept for us to explore because we generally don’t do hip-hop for competitions,” junior and Valkyries officer Abigail Fong said. 

The Valkyries credit their success to their comradery which significantly contributed to the overall growth of the team. 

“Our connection with each other set us apart from the other teams,” junior and Valkyries officer Lauren Yoon said. “I liked being able to dance with my friends and achieve goals with them.”