While you may have seen them performing at various high schools, or in competitions throughout the state, it wasn’t until their recent performances on America’s Got Talent where they won the hearts of viewers, making an even bigger name for the award winning dance team who calls Santa Clarita their home.
It’s no wonder they are loved by millions of viewers from all over the world. They are nothing short of remarkable and their jaw dropping performance left me in awe.
Meet the Hart High School Dance Team.
The 26 member dance team consisting of one senior, seven juniors, eight sophomores and 10 freshmen took stage several months ago in a nationwide talent competition on the hit prime time NBC show America’s Got Talent. The team was contacted by one of the members of casting for America’s Got Talent after the video was posted on social media. “Thousands of people audition each year for America’s Got Talent and have to go through several grueling auditions before getting to the stage,” states Katherine Leist, director and choreographer for the dance team. “I got the call that they wanted to send the dance team straight through to the onstage auditions in front of the judges.”
The Hart High School Dance Team auditioned in Season 9, Episode 903 and received the three “yes” votes needed by the show’s judges to advance. The dance team was then selected as one of eight acts to advance straight to quarterfinals, bypassing the show’s “Judgement Week”. Their dance routine to Team by Lorde and Burn by Ellie Goulding did not grant them a spot in the semi-finals, however the team walked away with memories that will last for a lifetime. “Regardless of the results, I was and still am so proud of their performance and I think they did the absolute best they could,” states Katherine. “For myself and the team, we have this experience that none of us will ever forget. It is a time that we will share with one another forever.”
Some of the team’s highest honors include Grand Champions at West Coast Elite Dance Competition, Best Story Storytelling Award, Most Original Award, National Champions in the Character, Medium Jazz and Prop Divisions at USA Dance Competition, to name a few. The team spends hours on end practicing. They compete in seven to eight competitions during the months of January through March, performing anywhere from six to 10 dances varying in dance styles per competition.
Recently, the award winning team performed as the opener at the 5th Annual Dancing With Our Stars event, which raised over $195,000 to date. “We love giving back to our community and appreciate any opportunity to do so,” states Katherine.
What does it take to be a successful dance team?
“Hard work, determination, perseverance, lots and lots of time in rehearsal, but most importantly, it takes a team to be a successful team…We were unbreakable this year, and in my four years coaching at Hart, I have never seen a group of girls like this group. Being on America’s Got Talent was life changing and surreal, and I never could have imagined reaching this height of success…the dance team is beyond deserving.”
