Peters Township dance team wins national championship

The Peters Township Dance Team captured its second straight national championship after successfully competing in the UDA High School nationals competition held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla.
This is the team’s fourth title since 2013. They won back-to-back crowns in 2022 and 2023 to go along with a banner in 2020.
Peters Township dominated the Small Varsity Hip Hop division, bringing home the gold against 46 other teams. The Indians were among 24 semifinalists and 14 finalists. Their neighbor, Chartiers Valley, scored third in the competition.
Dominique Schuster and Barb Deliere directed and coached the team.
Taylor Aiello and Delaney Gaydos served as captain. Aiello is one of three seniors to be crowned a three-time champion. Made Hensler and Gabi Casilli were the others.
Two-time champions included Gaydos as well as juniors Anna Radnor, Gabbi Englesberg, Maria Antonio and Cailee Morgan along with sophomores Eva Cibrone, Emma Bell and Maddie Zagorski.
Other team members and one-time champions included junior Courtney Shilling; sophomores Sami Perich and Ashlyn Morgan as well as freshmen Helena Darby and Sam Baumgarten.
Ambush winsIn other competitive news, the Pittsburgh Pride’s senior level team attended the Dance Majors and advanced to the Jamfest Supernationals held recently in Louisville, KY.
The Dance Majors is one of the most selective all star competitions in the world. To be selected for this prestigious event, teams must be among the “Best of the Best” in the Senior/Open age groups. The Dance Majors showcases the highest level of dancers by giving programs one chance to bring their best performance to the floor. There are no divisions, no categories and no splits. All teams go head to head in competition and can specialize in anything from jazz, hip hop, pom, kick and contemporary forms.
Ambush, which is Pittsburgh Pride’s senior hip hop team, was selected as one of only 14 teams in the world to perform at this year’s majors. Although Ambush did not win at the majors, they advanced and won the supernational competition.
Team members included: Madie Hensler, Taylor Aiello, Brittan Oglseby, Anna Radnor, Maria Antonio and Emma Bell from Peters Township; Tessa Imbarlina and Audrey Heim from Mt. Lebanon; Maddi Fitzgerald from Chartiers Valley; Aviana Molter from South Park; Jordyn Glancy from Canon-McMillan; Savannah McCormick from Upper St. Clair; Dezi Alexander from Rochester and Aaliyah Carpenter from Pittsburgh.
Dominique Schuster and Jordan Aiello coached the team.