For the Marana High School Dance Team, victory was not just a possibility, it was a feeling they carried into competition with them from the very beginning. And on February 2, 2025, that feeling became a reality.
After months of intensive training, dedication, and bonding over and above the levels of dancing, Marana returned with a team of 22 members from Orlando, Florida, as champions in the Varsity Intermediate Hip-Hop UDA National Dance Championship. Their electric routine, fine-tuned during months of intensive practices, made them take the top position out of 20 of the best teams in the nation. But this victory was more than just a trophy; this was proof that hard work, teamwork, and heart can make history.
The road to the national title didn’t start in Orlando. It started last October, when the team first learned their routine under the guidance of their choreographer, Christy Lopez, who has molded Marana for the past four years. From that day on, the dancers worked tirelessly on perfecting every move.
It is not only a team of immensely talented dancers, but a team guided by people who have gone through Marana’s amazing program. The head coach, Maya Alexander, going into her 10th year with the team, assisted by two other coaches who are recent graduates and alumni of Marana Dance, knows what it takes to make it big at this level. They offer not just expert coaching but also the strength and guidance needed to thrive under the pressure of competition. And that pressure is no joke. Going into competition against several of the finest schools in the nation, means every performance was to be perfectly, potently, and memorable.
For senior captains Karina Rodriguez Cuenca and Alyssa Amaro, this win was the culmination of everything they had worked toward.
"We always had this underlying feeling that this could be our year," Amaro told KOLD News 13. "The second we heard our name announced, there was so much pride, and I could feel the energy inside of everyone."
It was a moment of pure celebration: a moment when every grueling practice, every sacrifice, and every ounce of hard work was worth it.
What sets Marana apart is not just skills that win a championship but bonding. This is a family; they push and support each other and celebrate their every victory, both on and off the floor.
"Even if we didn't win, we still would've gone home with a win in our eyes because we have such an amazing program," Amaro said. "We are truly winning in life because of the program we get to be a part of."
That sense of connection remains part of their legacy. Rodriguez Cuenca plans to continue dancing at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, while Amaro plans to do the same at the University of Arizona. Even as they start new chapters, Marana will always stay with them.
"Once you’re a part of the program, you’re forever a part of it," Amaro said.
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