Todd Beamer High School's Dance Team is making a name for itself across the State as the team to watch, emulate, and to beat.

Competing at the 2007 WIAA State Dance Competition in the Yakima Sun Dome on March 24, the Titan team took first place in the Hip Hop category, its third State Championship in four years.

Coached by Joel Lindberg, a Physical Education and Health teacher at the school, the Dance Team competed against 13 other schools from across the State, earning a superior rating and taking home the top prize.

As one judge explained, "I have never given a perfect score, but I can't imagine a high school team performing any better. I've never seen anything like it."

The panel was made up of five judges, and one actually did award Todd Beamer a perfect score-the first known recorded in the history of the competition.

After a disappointing score last year at State, the team focused all its energy on winning back what has come to be known as "Todd's Trophy."

Losing points for a "potential" safety hazard in 2006 bumped the team out of the top spot, which otherwise would have easily been their third championship in a row.

During the off season, rules were refined so teams are not penalized for something that could happen, as was the case in the 2006 contest.

Hip Hop was added as a separate category in 2004, the first year Beamer won the championship.

This was also Beamer's first year as a school and the team was comprised mostly of freshmen, six of which now make up the senior leadership for the team.

Beamer repeated with a championship in 2005.

In addition to the State Championship honors, Beamer's Dance Team has placed first in every competition they've entered this year and has taken first place at district Competition all four years since the creation of the Hip Hop category, dominating the sport among all schools south of Seattle.

Led by seven seniors, the Titan dance team has grown close over the years, as well as learned how each team member will respond on the floor. Having years of dance experience together has allowed the team to perfect its technique and focus.

"I couldn't ask for a more dedicated and hard working group of girls. These girls are great students too, having earned a combined team GPA of 3.6," said Lindberg.

Lindberg has coached the team for three years. Daniel Cruz of Westlake Dance Center in Northgate choreographed the routine.

Scoring of dance performances is based on a 500 point scale, with each of the five judges contributing a possible 100 point score. Beamer's Hip Hop routine scored 493, just seven points less than a perfect score and the highest score of the 58 performances on the day.

Gig Harbor High School came in 2nd Place with a score of 467. Thirteen teams competed in the Hip Hop category.

The Regional Competition in Dallas, Texas is next for the Titan dancers. They will travel there in April to compete against other championship teams from across the western half of the country.

Members of the

Titan dance team

Sr. Brooke Summerfield, Captain

Sr. Alex Herndon, Co-Captain

Sr. Samantha Easley

Sr. Kelsey Sparks

Sr. Debbie Goff

Sr. Jennifer Yoo

Sr. Sharde Bullard

Jr. McKenzie Goff, Lieutenant

Jr. Kelly Lissak

Jr. Rochelle Razor

Jr. Jenny Kang

Soph. Lindsey Yap

Soph. Melissa Gillies

Fresh. Tannis Bogart