State Champion Hamden Dance Team Honored At State Capitol

HAMDEN, CT — The Hamden High School dance team celebrated its banner season with a trip to the state Capitol last week.

The team was honored alongside other winter sports champions, including the Hamden girls basketball team, at the state Capitol in Hartford on Wednesday, March 29.

The dance team won its 16th consecutive state championship by finishing first in both the Pom Division and Kick Division in the state High School Dance Championships in February. Hamden also placed second in the nation at the prestigious NDTC Championships in Orlando, Florida, in the Kick Division and placed in the finals in the Pom Division in February.

Hamden had 19 girls on the team this season, including seven seniors, and is coached by Kelley Zaleta, Kristy Geloso, Kathy Cavanaugh and Kathy Swillinger.

“It was a huge honor for the team to be invited to the state Capitol to be recognized for all the years of outstanding success that this team has had, and it was especially nice to be invited along with our State Champion Girls Basketball Team,” Swillinger said. “This has been an amazing season for our Dance Team and we are so proud of all of our team members as well as our coaches.”

Zaleta, who was a member of the dance team throughout her four years at Hamden High, has been coaching the team since she graduated from St. John’s University in 2010. Zaleta was named captain in her junior and senior years at Hamden High, and was also named captain for the St. John’s dance team.

The team will hold a tryout signup and information meeting from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 20 in Room C107 at Hamden High School. All incoming eight-graders, current Hamden High School students and their parents are invited to attend, according to Swillinger.