Middle school dance team takes home first place
The Top Flyers dance team from Flat Rock middle school took home the championship in their first competition
BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY
THE CHRONICLE
Jemia Blakely is no stranger to winning. The dance team she coaches regularly brings home the top prize or is usually in the running to do so. With this being her first year teaching at Flat Rock Middle School, she wanted to bring some of her expertise to the students there.
In their recent competition on Sunday, May 7 at Paramount’s Carowinds, the dance team at Flat Rock won first place.
The name of the team is the “Top Flyers” and they are made up of sixth-, seventh-and eighth-graders. This is the first year Flat Rock has had a dance team and they are the first team in Forsyth County to win a championship.
Blakely says she knew her girls had talent and was pleased with the result of winning the Midwest Cheer and Dance Association title.
“My expectations for the girls was for them to not get too nervous and for them to smile and stay focused,” she said. “I know it was their first competition as a team and the first competition period for a lot of them so I just told them to have fun but be serious when it’s time to hit the mat.”
Team member Nyjilia Harris says she enjoys participating with the dance team because it allows her to express herself.
“Going into the competition my thoughts were to just do my best,” Harris said. “I just wanted to make sure I remembered the dance moves. I was excited and then I was nervous. I was shaking a little bit.”
Kyla Wilborn, Top Flyer team member added, “I like this dance team because I can express myself and I think I can be a professional dancer when I grow up because I really like dance.”
Both Wilborn and Harris said they were confident going into the competition even though it was their first time. Wilborn says she had a mixed bag of emotions ranging from happiness, to anxiety to excitement.
When they found out they won the competition, the girls said they were shocked and very happy with the result. They said going forward they know they have a chance to win many more Harris says even if they lose a competition they will learn from their mistakes and apply that to their next competition.
