Cavalettes reach national finals

The John Carroll Catholic Middle School and High School Cavalettes won state championships in 2013. The middle school, junior varsity and varsity dance teams competed against numerous teams from Alabama, and the varsity Cavalettes went on to reach the finals in the 2013 National Dance Team Championship in Orlando.

Their first local competition was held in January at Hoover High School. The varsity Cavalettes placed first for both their hip hop and jazz dances. The junior varsity team came in first place in hip hop, and the middle school dance team finished first in both hip hop and jazz. 

The Cavalettes’ success continued at the UDA Alabama state competition, where the varsity dancers received first place for both their jazz and hip hop dances. They also received Most Entertaining Routine of the Day for their hip hop routine.  

The junior varsity team placed first for its hip hop routine at the state competition. The middle school dance team came in second place for its hip hop routine and first place for its jazz dance. It was also awarded best choreography for its jazz routine. 

The varsity Cavalettes went on to represent Alabama in the 2013 UDA National Dance Team Championship. The Cavalettes competed against approximately 70 teams from across the nation in the national championship.

For the second straight year, the Cavalettes advanced into the final rounds of competition for both their jazz and hip hop routines. They finished 12th place in jazz and sixth place in hip hop. They were the only team from the state of Alabama to advance to the final rounds of competition for both of their routines.

Varsity coach Lori Tombrello was pleased with the Cavalettes’ performance at the UDA Nationals.

“They represented John Carroll Catholic with class and school pride,” she said.