Marlboro HS Dancers Win National Spotlight With Hip Hop Routine

MARLBORO, NJ — A coach with a love of dance, supporting a team of determined student dance athletes, led to a dream fulfilled this month at the High School Dance Team Nationals in Orlando, Fla. Coach Alexandra Parrino said the Marlboro High School Dance Team began participating in this Universal Dance Association national event just three years ago, after competing regionally around the state for 10 years. There are three rounds of the competition, said Parrino: prelims, semis and finals. “We have never made it past prelims until this year!” she said upon the team’s return home – a return that came with a local police escort to recognize the occasion, she added. And getting into the finals was groundbreaking for the team, 15 members of which performed Feb. 4 in the Medium Varsity Hip Hop category, dancing to a mix of five different songs. “We made it to finals for the first time and placed 11th in the nation,” Parrino said. “There are only six teams in the state of New Jersey to attend this competition. This is a huge accomplishment and a first for Monmouth County,” she said. You can see the team’s routine on its Instagram site:...