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03/04/2017 11:00 PMFor a program that’s turned in so many show-stopping performances at marquee meets in recent years, one thing the Branford dance team hadn’t done was place first in both divisions at the New England Championship. Well, that all changed on March 4, when the Hornets added the latest milestone to their dynasty by claiming victory in the Hip-Hop and Jazz divisions at New Englands to come home with a pair of regional titles for the first time.
Branford’s double victory comes one week after its exceptional showing at the State Championship, where the Hornets captured the hip-hop and jazz crowns for the third consecutive campaign. Branford has won the hip-hop title 10 of the last 11 years at states and prevailed in jazz five times in the past eight seasons. With their historic showing at this year’s New England Championship, the Hornets have now taken first for hip-hop in four of the last five years and won for jazz in two of the last three at the regional meet.
“Every season, we set goals for this team and they meet or exceed them. It’s amazing how we keep setting the bar for these girls and they keep pushing until they meet their goals,” said Coach Jacqui Montano, whose team also made the finals for hip-hop and jazz at nationals for the first time earlier this season. “I couldn’t be more proud of this team. Last year, they made history and, this year, they made more history. It just keeps growing and that’s part of working with a program like this—to consistently push to improve and grow the program. Next year, we’ll set new goals, we’ll work to meet those, as well, and I have no doubt that they’ll be able to do that.”
Branford had won in the Small Varsity Hip-Hop Division at states, while Fairfield Warde was first for the Large Varsity Hip-Hop Division. There are no Small and Large divisions at New Englands and so the Hornets were competing against Fairfield Warde with the hip-hop title on the line. Branford edged out its Connecticut adversary by scoring a 259 to Fairfield’s 256.5.
The jazz competition wasn’t nearly as close as the Hornets recorded a score of 267 to distance themselves from defending champion Braintree, Massachusetts, which placed second with a 250.5 at Enfield High School.
Montano said that Branford delivered its best performances of the season in both competitions at New Englands, and fellow Coach Megan Palluzzi wholeheartedly agreed with that sentiment. Palluzzi said the Hornets improved upon one key aspect from their hip-hop routine at states. For their jazz performance, they let the teardrops flow while accompanied by the Train song, “Drops of Jupiter.”
“In hip-hop, one thing we came out of states wishing we had done was hitting all our tricks...Today, they nailed all their tricks. There was not one flaw on any trick. They nailed their performance and had crazy energy to finish out the season,” said Palluzzi. “For jazz, it was another beautiful performance...They executed it the best they could and really brought the emotion today. They were actually crying on the floor, which is unheard of, but they really told the story, and got across a message that’s close to our program’s heart. It was their last time performing together and it really hit them.”
Branford’s championship roster is comprised of senior captains Lauren Driscoll and Sophia Smith, along with fellow senior Hailey LaBonte, junior Melissa Brennan; sophomores Casey Allen, Hannah Antonino, Jenna Juliano, Rachel LaBonte, Chloe Lourenco-Lang, and Lily Milici; and freshmen Samantha Esposito, Johnna Palmese, Bella Petrosino, Juliana Robinson, and Olivia Vitale.
Although the pressure was seemingly on the Hornets to add to their long line of titles, Coach Montano said the focus was for her athletes to simply savor the moment of performing together for the final time this year at the New England meet. Montano felt that if her team embraced that notion, then the results would take care of themselves.
“Today, there was low pressure. We just wanted them to enjoy their last time competing together. We approached it that way, which helped them a lot,” Montano said. “I’m proud of them. They gave it their all today on the floor and really danced for each other and connected. For jazz, they were super emotional and were crying on the floor. They were selling their story to the audience and making them feel something. It’s more about that than the medals.”
In the end, the Hornets earned the two regional medals that they set out to get, and Coach Palluzzi couldn’t think of a more fitting finish to the best season in the history of the Branford dance program.
“I am so incredibly proud that they reached all their goals and had our most successful season to date. They went out there for the seniors, wanted their last moments to be perfect, and leave no regrets on the floor,” said Palluzzi. “It’s really special that these 15 girls came together as a new team and made such success happen out there.”