Kenosha’s Step by Step Dance Academy competition team performs under the bright lights at Fiserv Forum

Step by Step Dance Academy, 7645 Pershing Blvd., kicked off its 2023 competition season on Monday, Jan. 16 with a performance on a big stage.

The team, comprised of 13 dancers ages 8-18, performed on the court at Fiserv Forum prior to the Milwaukee Bucks-Indiana Pacers’ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee.

Studio owner and director Amy Slater, who has been teaching dance in Kenosha for over 30 years, said that the experience was memorable for the dancers because of the large venue and the interactive crowd gave the dancers a new appreciation for a “live performance.”

“During competition season, our dancers are judged in so many categories that they focus on always improving and forget to soak in all the accomplishments they achieved along the way,” she said. “This was fun on a whole new level for them.”

The team had the opportunity to meet members of the 414 Crew, the Milwaukee Bucks’ dance team, go behind the scenes of Fiserv Forum, perform on an NBA court and enjoy the basketball game.

Olivia Knautz, an eight-year member of the competition team, appreciated having the opportunity to dance at a big and unique venue. Olivia Marshall, who has been on the competition team for seven years, added: “The announcer who introduced the team and the lighting made the experience special.”  

The team performed its Large Group Jazz Routine, “Live It Up,” choreographed by Bailey Lundy and Samantha Hodge.

“I was very nervous, but it was so much fun,” said Ella Clarke, the youngest member of the team.

The Step by Step competition team competes March through June. This year, the team will be competing for a bid to the Groove Nationals Dance Competition held in Myrtle Beach, S.C., in July.

Step by Step Dance Academy teaches both recreational and competitive dance for ages ranging from 2½ years old through adult. The genres of dance consist of Tap, Lyrical, Jazz, Hip Hop, Ballet, Pointe, and Tumbling.

More information can be found at www.sbsdanceacademy.com or on their Facebook page.