SOS Dance Team Walks Into Their First Competition and Walks Out as Champions

Scholarship Prep Oceanside's SOS Dance Team walked into their first-ever competition having rebuilt all three routines from scratch just days before. They walked out as champions.

The team brought home four first-place trophies:

• First Place Elementary Dance
• First Place Jr. Dance
• First Place Jr. Hip Hop, and
• First Place Overall Showmanship. 

That final award came in open competition against advanced middle school and high school programs.

This moment has been two years in the making. It started with 15-minute recesses and a group of Scholars who believed in the vision before there was anything to show for it.

At Scholarship Prep Oceanside, Scholars have access to the arts through electives, recess activities, and after-school clubs, and SOS Dance is one of them.

Under the direction and choreography of Coach Montrell Britton, these Scholars auditioned, trained, and built something from the ground up. The SOS Dance Team caps at 25 members, chosen each October through an audition process open to Scholars in third through eighth grades.

Each of the three competition routines carried its own message. The first introduced the history of Memphis Jookin, a style born in the mid-80s known for its bounce, intricate footwork, and roots in physical expression and community. The second routine, "Past Present Future," was built around the theme of power and what becomes possible when a team moves together. The third closed with a message about friendship and resilience, one that had the entire building on its feet.

The Scholars who competed had worked through the pressure of an entirely new set of routines created just days before they took the stage. After a stellar performance at the annual spring performing arts showcase the evening prior, they fueled up, got on the bus, and went to work. When the final results came in, there were tears, screams, and a celebration that followed them all the way back to campus, where families were waiting to welcome them home.

They came in as the underdog story. They left as champions.

Coach Britton's vision has always extended beyond the competition floor. "What I'm building is longevity and future generations as professional dancers, choreographers, dance artists, coaches, and teachers," he said. "It'll get bigger and better." If this first competition is any indication, he and these Scholars are just getting started.

Congratulations to the SOS Dance Team, and thank you to Ms. Eunice, Oceanside's ELOP Manager (official team Dance Mom), and to every family who supported these Scholars along the way.

If you are looking for a tuition-free school where your Scholar can discover their passion and shine, we would love to welcome your family to Scholarship Prep!

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