Cherry Hill West's Dance Team Tops in Season-Opening Competition

Cherry Hill West's competition dance teams made an early season statement this weekend, winning two categories outright and garnering the grand champion award at the St. John Vianney Dance Competition in Holmdel.

West's varsity hip-hop routine, which earned the team the grand champion award, was tops among nine teams by a wide margin, beating out the second-place squad by 43 points.

The varsity jazz routine put together a similar performance, beating out seven other teams, with the second-place team 27 points back.

Even the junior varsity jazz team was solid, finishing second in the division.

Coach Shelby Smith credited the talent and dedication of her dancers for the great opening to the season.

"We weren't sure if we were 100-percent ready, but it looks like we did pretty well for ourselves," she said. "This is just the beginning of the season, and we have a lot of hard work that still needs to take place every day at practice, but we are hoping for a successful and fun season."

The dancers are coming off a 2012 season that saw them win the varsity hip-hop division at the EDA Nationals and nab the Eastern Elite Team title.

Their next competition is Jan. 26 at the Lancer Invitational at Lakeland High School.