By Grace Palazzolo, Reporter
Aquinas Dance Team at NAIA Nationals – Photo by Aquinas Dance Team
The Aquinas College dance team participated in the NAIA national championship, placing 11 overall. In the ten years of the NAIA’s existence, the AQDT has been one of the few teams to qualify for the competition every single year; an accomplishment that highlights the team’s and coach’s consistency and dedication.
Head Coach and Assistant Athletic Director Ashley Kaman, brings 20 years of coaching experience and is in her seventh year at AQ. She emphasized the significance of the team competing at nationals, but also expressed her concerns regarding the scale of the event.
“Nationals is a large stage with the most talented teams across the country,” Kaman said. “We are always striving for confidence, health and safety and trust in our training as we go into such a large event.”
The NAIA changed their scoring system for this year’s competition, this resulted in the team navigating the new score sheets and determining how to best meet the sheet’s requirements.
“Each competition we attend, we learn more about ourselves and about our sport,” Kaman said.
Each competition has a unique scoring method, the more frequently the AQDT competes the more adept they will be at adapting to new score sheets. Competing at such a high level and among such strong competing teams has allowed the AQDT to grow and refine their routines while gaining valuable feedback from judges.
AQDT Competes in their team routine – Photo by Grace Malec
“My first year of AQDT has been nothing but amazing,” freshman Zoey Laga said. She credits her first year experience to the supportive and growth positive environment created by her fellow dancers and the coaches.
For Laga, NAIA nationals is an opportunity to as a team, stay positive and work together. “We have worked so hard this season and we should all be super proud of one another,” said Laga.
The continuation of her dancing career at the collegiate level was one of the main reasons she decided to go to college and chose Aquinas; she says that she is proud of how she has grown both mentally and physically. She is excited for the continuation of her collegiate journey.
“My biggest takeaway has been to be grateful for the ability I have to still pursue my passion,” Laga said.
For sophomore Brooklyn Kozminski this experience was more than an opportunity to dance on the national stage, it was also an opportunity to strengthen relationships and create lasting memories with her teammates.
“It was so fun,” Kozminski said. “I feel like I bonded so much more with my teammates and got to enjoy being in their presence doing what we all love doing most.”
Looking ahead, AQDT will compete at NDA Nationals from April 8-11 in Daytona Beach, Fla. NDA is an even larger national event with teams from NCAA Division I to III, as well as NAIA and junior colleges. The team is excited for another opportunity to perform, and will be bringing a second jazz routine to the event.
“We can’t wait to represent AQ on such a big stage,” Kaman said.
The Saint 