Rossville Rockettes Rossville Rockettes dance team has recently earned several team and individual awards. Team members are Kendra Boller, Shala Rathbone, Kinsie Layton, Trexie Wolfs, Barbie Rader, Alicia Heater, Taylor Allred, Kassidie Houchin, Kaitlyn Layton, Sarah McKee, Morgan Pratt and Chelsea Sandifur. Photo provided Rossville Rockettes High School Dance Team recently returned from Elite National Dance Alliance (NDA) summer camp held at Valparaiso University where they earned several awards. Over 150 dancers, representing nine teams, participated.

"The girls are very hard working," said Rockettes Dance Team Coach Janilyn Layton. "We received many firsts at camp and I think this is just a start of many more we will receive this year."

The Rockettes were awarded the Spirit Stick, given to teams showing the most sincere spirit and enthusiasm while at the four-day camp. They were presented with the Technical Growth Award, voted on by camp staff, for all-around technical improvement during camp. They also earned one of three trophies for their home routine that they choreographed and performed.

With their home routine they also earned a NDA National Championship Bid to compete in Orlando, Fla., in March, Layton said this is the first time in her nine years as the Rockettes coach that they have earned this honor.

According to Layton the NDA Team Award is a huge honor for her dancers. The award is presented to the team that is judged to be the all-around superior team in all areas of leadership, teamwork, performance and positive attitudes. NDA staff select the recipient.

The Rockettes also received a certificate for Superior Showmanship.

The Rockettes is a 12- member team with four captains - Kendra Boller, Shala Rathbone, Kinsie Layton and Trexie Wolfs - who competed in the Team Leader Circle of Winners, earning a Gold Award. There is one gold, one silver and one bronze presented.

Boller and Layton both received the All-American Nomination, They tried out, along with 33 other nominees, and were chosen to be part of the All-American Team with the opportunity to perform in Hawaii at the Aloha Bowl or in Florida at the Orange Bowl.

Wolfs was awarded the Excellence in Leadership Award, for being the captain who displayed the strongest leadership at camp for positive attitude, always willing to help out her own team and other teams and for being a good role model.

The Rockettes recently competed at the Indiana State Fair in the dance competition. They will compete in the IHSDTA competitions this year while holding their own invitational the first of the year.

They hope to raise enough money to go to Florida and compete at Nationals, said coach Layton. The team is looking for sponsors.

Other team members are Barbie Rader, Alicia Heater, Taylor Allred, Kassidie Houchin, Kaitlyn Layton, Sarah McKee, Morgan Pratt and Chelsea Sandifur.