MacArthur High’s Brigade Belles Shine at Dance Competition

MacArthur High School’s Brigade Belles took home several awards after competing in the ShowTime International Competition held in the spring semester in San Antonio.

The event provided several levels of competition to give students the opportunity to compete with similar schools. The dance group entered the competition as a small intermediate advanced team.

Dance Officer Awards
Earned a Division 1 Rating
Sweepstakes (rating of at least 85 from at least two judges on each of three routines)
Judges Award (rating of at least 90 from all judges on all three routines)
Selected for the Champions Circle Trophy (like earning a Grand Champions Award)
Best in Category in Pom, Jazz and Modern Routines

Dance Team Awards
Sweepstakes (rating of at least 85 from at least two judges on each of three routines)
Judges Award (rating of at least 90 from all judges on all three routines)
Earned Division I Rating
Best in Category in Hip-hop and Contemporary
Showtime’s Applause Award
Contest Team Champion Trophy
Runner-up for Jazz and Pom Routine

Officer Squads in Small/Medium Ensemble Category
1st Place in Trio Routine: General Paola Platero, 1st Major Chelsea Osei & Emily Burciaga
1st Place in Medium Ensemble Division: Mónica Alvarez formed a group of team members
Runner-Up in Small Ensemble Division: 1st Lieutenant Officer Stephanie Rodríguez’s “black” squad
Runner-Up in Medium Ensemble Division: 1st Major Chelsea Osei’s “white” squad
Runner-Up in Duet Ensemble: 2nd Major Darianne Dubose & 1st Lieutenant Officer Stephanie Rodríguez

Paola Platero

Soloist Awards
Contest Soloist Champion (1st Place) — General Paola Platero (awarded a $200 scholarship)
3rd Place — Emily Burciaga
4th Place — Chelsea Osei
5th Place — Torre Merricks

All of the Brigade Belles’ soloists earned Division I ratings.

The MacArthur Brigade Belles are under the direction of Ashley Robinson. She is proud of her team.

“The girls earned every award because they performed well under the pressure,” said Robinson. “They had to deal with bright sunlight and heat and small carpeted floors to dance on.

“A couple of teammates also suffered unfortunate last minute injuries that forced the Belles to change formations and parts right before they entered the stage. The Belles competed like professionals.”