Jan. 6, the Laduettes competed against dozens of schools in the St. Louis regional competition, which was hosted by Holt High School, to showcase their hard work and dancing skills.

Beyond the glitz and glamour of sparkling pom poms and perfectly executed choreography, the Laduettes dance team spends countless hours perfecting their dances. Whether competing at championship level or entertaining a packed audience, the Laduettes’ commitment to their craft is evident in every movement made on stage. Sophomore Lydia Stoneman knows firsthand the team’s demands.

“The days leading up to competitions can be a lot of work,” Stoneman said. “Practice can be intense because at every practice we run each dance full out and act like we are performing it. It is worth it, however, because our coaches push us to do our best.”

Participating in any competition can be quite overwhelming and nerve-wracking. The Laduettes, however, have developed a unique technique to transform these nervous feelings into a source of motivation that drives them to perform their best, instead of allowing their jitters to weigh them down.

“I get nervous a lot but personally I think nerves are a good thing,” Stoneman said. “It shows that you care a lot about what you are doing and the adrenaline allows me to have more energy.”

Sophomore Marah Swillinger’s leg injury put a dent in her second high school season. As an athlete, the road to recovery has been physically and mentally challenging, but it hasn’t stopped her from performing her best.

“Some of my skills have gone down a little bit, but I plan on building it back up,” Swillnger said. “I’m scared to do the same trick and I’m not 100% fully healed at the point where I can do everything again to the best ability.”

The Laduettes expertise ranges from teaching dance clinics to performing at school events, and they have become a well-known and beloved group in the community, inspiring the next generation of dancers.

“I was motivated to start dancing because when I was younger I saw how fun being on the Laduettes looked, and immediately knew I wanted to be a part of it,” Stoneman said.

The Laduettes perform on and off the dance stage like a well-oiled machine. Practice and choreography can only get a team so far, but the team bond is what shines through this performance.

“What I enjoy most about dancing is the opportunity to be on a dance team with some of my best friends,” Stoneman said. “I love how all the hard work pays off and being able to perform with this special team.”