Gehlen Dance Team earns 'I' rating at state competition

Members of the 2008-09 Gehlen Dance Team are, front row (from left) -- Erin Hoffman, Amanda Roder, Emily Tentinger and Jackie Kessenich. Second row -- Leah Ruhland, Sara Mayer, BreAnne Kraus, Tera Langel and Ali Galles. Back row -- Brittany Flack, Lauren Eide, Nicole Ryan, Brittany Jaminet, Megan Tentinger and Cassie Rowe. [Click to enlarge]

Members of the Gehlen Catholic Dance Team didn't let last Saturday's cold weather slow them down as they performed their way to a "I" rating at Iowa State Dance Competition and Distinguished Academic Honors for the eighth year in a row. The competition was held in Des Moines.

The Gehlen Dance Team also placed first in Class I in Kick and second in Hip Hop.

Members of the dance team are:

Seniors - Erin Hoffman, Amanda Roder, Emily Tentinger and Jackie Kessenich.

Juniors - Leah Ruhland, Sara Mayer, BreAnne Kraus and Tera Langel.

Sophomores - Brittany Flack, Brittany Jaminet and Megan Tentinger.

Freshmen - Ali Galles, Lauren Eide, Nicole Ryan, and Cassie Rowe.

An encore performance of the dance team's show wll be held this Friday, Dec. 12, during the halftime of the boys' varsity basketball game against South O'Brien in the Gehlen Catholic gym.

Dance team coaches Carol Kessenich and Julie Langel applauded the girls for another exceptional year.

"The Dance Team works hard and are truly enjoyable to coach," said Kessenich.

Both Kessenich and Langel have worked with the dance team members for several years.

Unlike most of the dance teams in the Iowa state competition, Gehlen Catholic does not hire the coaches to choreograph the routines or purchase pre-choreographed routines. The 12 dance team members and alternates choreograph their routines.

Members of the dance team invest a number of hours until each routine is perfected.

The dance team gave their first performance of the school year at Pride Night in late August at Jim Lorenzen Field, and culimnate with the Dance Team Show Feb. 21 at Gehlen Catholic. At that time, they also invite the younger girls to come and learn a routine and dance that evening.