The Fort Walton Beach High School Stars Dance Team is on their way to Orlando, Florida to compete in the NDA Nationals, a national high school competition that runs from March 3rd to March 5th. 

• Head coach Erin Longo spoke with Get The Coast about the team’s hard work throughout the year and their goal of bringing home a title.

Longo has been coaching the team for nine years. She explains that the team usually competes in two regional competitions leading up to nationals every year. The team puts in a lot of hard work and sacrifice, not just from the dancers but also from their families who often have to give up vacation time and holidays.

“We work all the way through football season and basketball season, and then our competition season starts,” Longo said. “It is truly a year-long sport and they put a lot of hours in, and a lot of sweat. A lot of sacrifice goes into being nationally ranked, and that’s our goal every year as a team is to place with the heavy hitters in the large varsity category.”

The team has worked hard this year and Longo believes this is one of the best teams she has ever coached. The dancers have shown exceptional talent and have come together as a team to work towards not only individual goals but big team goals.

• “This year we’ve worked on trying to be on the same level, so every dancer on the floor is dancing at the same level,” she explained. “We are bringing a fun hip-hop routine that is full of energy and excitement.”

The team is known for their crowd appeal, and they aim to bring that same energy and excitement to the competition. 

“We are just really excited to represent our city, our community, and our school and that’s really what we take the most pride in,” Longo said.