This is the moment that every dancer in Idaho has been waiting for, a day they have been working towards for months. After all the countless hours of practicing and hard work they have put in all year, they finally got to showcase what they have been working on.
On Feb. 28 dancers from around Idaho came together at the Mountain America Center in Idaho Falls. For many dancers, this isn’t just a competition, but a time to prove to everyone that their team has been working so hard and should win. The Eagle Lightning Dance Team won, but that wasn’t just their overall goal. Their other goal was to leave everything on the floor.
“No matter the outcome, our program stands for so much than just dance,” said senior and head captain Alexa Shannahan.
The Eagle Lightning Dance Team had something to prove this year and they were more determined than ever. For the past three years, they have gotten so close to claiming the top spot at the state competition, being the runners up in 2023, 2024 and 2025. They had multiple teams and coaches cheering for them to win this year as they had witnessed the dancers’ journey of past years and wanted them to see them succeed.
“I could not be more proud of our team for working so hard this past year to prove to everyone what we can do,” said senior caption Veronica Elison.
The dancers left it all on the floor and felt confident walking to awards. They sat in a circle and waited for the judges to announce the placements. The first category was Military. All the dancers were holding each other’s hands as they waited. They announced Eagle as first place for Military. Next was hip hop and Eagle got third place. Then Pom was announced second place. Finally, the Dance category, Eagle first place.
The team was sitting down in the circle and couldn’t contain their excitement that they were about to be announced the overall Dance State Champions 2025-2026. As soon as they got announced the winners, the whole crowd went crazy. The dancers were screaming, jumping, hugging and even crying happy tears, realizing all their hard work paid off. This day meant even more to the seniors on the team as they have gotten runners up for the past three years, but they ended on the best note.
“There is really no better feeling than winning state with your best friends,” said senior Meridith Judge.
This isn’t the end of the Eagle Lightning Dance Team’s journey as they are going to Nationals from Mar. 12 to Mar. 17. They were national champs last year and they are going back to try and get another title.
With a state championship finally in their hands and Nationals just around the corner, the team carries their confidence and unstoppable energy into the next chapter of their journey, ready to prove, once again, why they belong at the top.
