Sugar Bears Invitational sends area dance teams to state

Springfield, Mo. (OzarksSportsZone.com) -- 11 years ago, Sugar Bear coach Susan Brown, was asked by several local high school dance coaches to start a regional competition in effort to qualify dance teams in the surrounding area to the state competition.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS

Most dance regionals are located in either St. Louis or Kansas City, which can be very costly for schools with small budgets that already would have to travel to those cities in order to compete at state.

So she agreed, and Susan has been running this event for over a decade.

FIND VIDEOS OF PERFORMANCES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ARTICLE

“In order for a dance team to qualify to state, they have to attend a regional competition such as this,” said Brown. “But this competition also serves the option of just giving teams the opportunity to compete in a stress-free environment.”

The Missouri State Sugar Bears hosted the high school regional dance competition at Hammons Student Center Saturday afternoon to fund their trip to nationals in Orlando, Fl.

Opportunities such as this have now opened doors for high school dance teams all over southwest Missouri to compete and qualify to the state competition Feb. 23 at the Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo.

Unfortunately, fans and spectators alike are usually exposed to dance routines primarily during halftime events at either football or basketball games. This competition was able to show the community the competitive drive that high school dancers condition and prepare for all season long.

“It’s a year-round activity, and all competition events are sponsored and followed by MSHSAA rules,” said Brown. “Many of the girls practice anywhere from three to six days a week, so this event gives the dancers the chance to showcase their hard work and effort they have put into their amazing routines.”

Majority of the girls that compete for their high school are also involved in other various dance and cheer clubs. Though, Susan Brown agrees that there is a difference between cheer and dancing.

“This type of competition is much more dance oriented, though you will still see tumbling, lifts, cheering and stunts, but it’s minimal in comparison to the sport of cheerleading,” said Brown.

Mt. Vernon, Carthage, Marshfield, and Republic all came home with first place finishes in their respective dance categories.

2013 MSU Sugar Bears Invitational Team Results
Dance Category		TEAM
1st Place	1A/2A	Lutheran South
2nd Place	1A/2A	Excelsior Springs
1st Place	3A/4A	Carthage
2nd Place	3A/4A	Republic
3rd Place	3A/4A	Willard
1st Place	5A/6A	Mehlville
2nd Place	5A/6A	Fox
3rd Place	5A/6A	Parkhill South
4th Place	5A/6A	Ozark
5th Place	5A/6A	Nixa
Pom Category		TEAM
1st Place	JV	Rockwood Summit
2nd Place	JV	Pembroke Hill
3rd Place	JV	Lutheran South
1st Place	1A/2A	Pembroke Hill
2nd Place	1A/2A	Lutheran South
3rd Place	1A/2A	Bolivar
4th Place	1A/2A	Monett
5th Place	1A/2A	Ava
6th Place	1A/2A	West County
1st Place	3A/4A	Marshfield
1st Place	5A/6A	Fox
2nd Place	5A/6A	Kickapoo
3rd Place	5A/6A	Ozark
4th Place	5A/6A	Nixa
5th Place	5A/6A	Joplin
Prop Category		TEAM
1st Place	1A/2A	Mt Vernon
Mix Category		TEAM
1st Place	JV	Pembroke Hill
1st Place	1A/2A	Pembroke Hill
1st Place	3A/4A	Republic
2nd Place	3A/4A	Carthage
Hip Hop Category		TEAM
1st Place	1A/2A	Excelsior Springs
2nd Place	1A/2A	Pembroke Hill
3rd Place	1A/2A	Monett
4th Place	1A/2A	Bolivar
1st Place	3A/4A	Carthage
2nd Place	3A/4A	Willard
3rd Place	3A/4A	Lebanon
4th Place	3A/4A	Marshfield
1st Place	5A/6A	Parkhill South
2nd Place	5A/6A	Mehlville
3rd Place	5A/6A	Kickapoo
Kick Category		TEAM
1st Place	JV	Lutheran South
1st Place	1A/2A	Lutheran South
2nd Place	1A/2A	Bolivar
3rd Place	1A/2A	Mt Vernon