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02/08/2019 11:00 PM

Branford Dance Places 10th in Hip-Hop at Nationals


The Branford dance team competed at the National Dance Team Championship in Orlando, Florida and recorded a 10th-place performance in the finals of the Hip-Hop Division. Pictured for the Hornets are (back) Juliana Robinson, Mallory Baughman, Olivia Vitale, and Anna Perricone; (middle) Bella Petrosino, Samantha Esposito, Emma Angelo, Johnna Palmese, and Layla Redente; (front) Hannah Antonino, Lily Milici, Casey Allen, Rachel LaBonte, and Chloe Lourenco-Lang. Photo courtesy of Jacqui Montano

The Branford High School dance team participated in the Universal Dance Association National Dance Team Championship at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida on Feb. 2 and 3. Head Coach Jacqui Montano’s squad competed against 85 teams in the Small Varsity Hip-Hop Division and the Small Varsity Jazz Division at the meet. Branford advanced to the finals of the Hip-Hop Division and then finished in 10th place overall. In the Jazz Division, the Hornets advanced to the semifinal round while placing ahead of about half of the teams in its division.

The 2019 Branford dance team features senior captains Casey Allen and Lily Milici; fellow seniors Hannah Antonino, Rachel LaBonte, and Chloe Lourenco-Lang; juniors Samantha Esposito, Johnna Palmese, Bella Petrosino, Juliana Robinson, and Olivia Vitale; sophomore Layla Redente; and freshmen Emma Angelo, Mallory Baughman, and Anna Perricone.

Last season, Branford took first place in both the Hip-Hop and Jazz divisions at the State Championship for the fourth straight year. Branford has won a hip-hop title at states in 11 of the last 12 years and in jazz six times in the past nine years. The Hornets also took first place in the Jazz Division for the third season in a row at last year’s New England Championship, while finishing second in the Hip-Hop Division.

—Chris Piccirillo