The Selma Times-Journal

For all of the supporters and contributors to the Selma High Dance Team, they’ve brought you a return on your investment.

The Pride of Selma has practiced and dieted all year long for the big event that took place at Miles College in Birmingham, July 9-15.

The team had been raising funds in order to make the trip. Thanks to a lot of support from the community, they made it and brought home the prize – first prize. Co-captain, Shaquaevia Hooks won the best dancer award.

“They were ecstatic,” LaTanglia Williams, dance team sponsor, said of the team after they heard their name called as being the winners.

The team competed against four other high schools – Huffman, Erwin, Litchfield and Fairfield – to bring the first place trophy home for the third year in a row.

The team won first place at Miles in 2004, Alabama State in 2005 and last week was the charm.

Williams attributes the team’s wins to prayer, hard work and determination.

“We prayed every day before we did anything,” Williams said.

“We kept God first,” she added.

The team was very pleased and thankful for all of the community support.

Along with donations, the team received lots of encouragement from the community.

Williams said that the team received feedback from individuals saying that they’d cut the article featuring the team out of the June 29 edition of The Times-Journal.

According to Williams, the team has become an inspiration to some, saying that some younger girls have told the team members that they wanted to be “just like them when they grew up.”

“They motivate me,” Williams said.

The team’s dedication to diet and exercise has inspired some to try their Special K diet.

The team will take a break from their dieting and practicing this week in celebration of their win, but come July 24, the team will go right back to it when the Selma High Band Camp begins.

The camp is scheduled for July 24 to 28, 6 a.m. to noon and July 31 to Aug. 4, 6 to 10 a.m.

Former Pride of Selma member Jocelyn Lewis will teach the team dance techniques and fundamentals during camp.

Lewis is a current member of the Alabama A&M University dance team.

Following band camp, school will begin six days later on Aug. 10.

This school term will be the senior year for dance team members Angel Cardona, Nichole Dawson and Laquanda Fails.

According to Williams, shortly after their win at Miles, the college offered each of the seniors a $2,000 dance scholarship.

Also competing at Miles were the SHS majorettes and flag team, both bringing home second-place trophies.