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SCHOOL NEWS
AHA’s Largest-Ever Dance Team Earns All-American Honors
Jenny Sweet, head coach of the Academy of the Holy Angelsʼ acclaimed dance team, is preparing for the new season with energy, optimism, and 41 members. This is the Academyʼs largest team since the dance program was organized 12 years ago, with Sweet at the helm. Her first team had 14 dancers.
Honors and awards are already pouring in. AHAʼs dancers just completed the Universal Dance Association Camp at Spooky Nook Sports in Manheim, Penn., where the varsity, junior varsity, and middle school teams qualified for Nationals. The high school dancers earned a perfect score.
Six Angels were named AllAmericans and received an invitation to participate in the 2023 London New Yearʼs Day Parade. AHAʼs honorees are Katie Fragola, Jordyn Wynn, Isabella McMahon, Maddie Krol, Emily Kho, and Annabella de Leon.
Varsity dancer Milena Hiza, JV dancer Chloe Kwon, and middle school dancer Cristyn Lindsay brought home the Pin it Forward Award for their work ethic and overall passion in each class.
In addition, the UDA staff recognized the Academy for outstanding leadership and energy.
UDAʼs sleepaway camp included four days of performances, master classes, bonding opportunities, and leadership exercises.
“Every year, our Holy Angels dancers amaze and re-energize me, always bringing their best effort to raise the bar,” Sweet said. “This is our largest team in dance team history and we are excited for what is to come this season!”
Asked about the roster increase, Sweet pointed to the teamʼs constant push to evolve, and the boost of the new middle school team. She highlighted the benefit of being able to work with the middle school dancers for seven years, instead of four, particularly since the youngest Angels are at a crucial point in their dance development.
Sweet works with JV coach Alyssa Aponte and middle school coach Kristen DePeri.
Captains for the 2022-23 season include varsity, Katie Fragola and Noelle Wacker; JV, Isabella McMahon and Alexandra Nicholas; and MS, Bella de Leon, Emily Kho, and Maddie Krol.
The varsity roster includes Katie Fragola, Noelle Wacker, Jordyn Wynn, Karis Cho, Juliet Gelineau, Maggie Yu, Mackenzie Crimmins, Emily Figueroa, Milena Hiza, Ava McAdams, Quinn Reicherz, Auden Cho,
Academy of the Holy Angels’ dancers and coaches — varsity,JV,and middle school — constitute the largest team in AHAdance team history.And they’re bringing in big honors. Courtesy photo
