Fake eyelashes, tan jazz shoes, dance tights, hair spray, and bobby pins mean competition season for the Stingerettes.

  Chaos, energy, and nerves fill the atmosphere as dance schools from all across Texas wait anxiously to compete and learn how they placed.

 Feb. 18, the Stingerettes and Mrs. Kimberly Kelsey, dance instructor, competed at the Crowd Pleasers North Dallas Regional contest and won the sweepstakes for both officers and team, as well as multiple other awards.

  Feb. 25, the Stings competed in state against various schools from all over Texas at Weatherford High School and won entertainer award to team kick and first place state grand champions.

  Being a Stingerette means more than just dancing and competing.

  “It means you get to be a part of a family and do something you love,” Stingerette Paytin Beyer said.

  However, you do have to be a good dancer, have hard work ethics and dedication to be in Stings.

  “To be a Sting not only means to be a good dancer, but it means striving to do your best all the time, being prepared to learn, challenging yourself, and always trying to make yourself a better person and dancer,” captain Maurie Dodson said.

  There are multiple reasons why 52 girls are involved in Stings, and it’s not just for the dancing.

  “There are so many things I love about being a Sting, it’s hard to choose just one. If I had to choose it would be the fact that we’re all a family. The girls on the team are like my sisters. Mrs. Kelsey is definitely like a mom to us, ‘the cool mom.’ Annabelle, her daughter, is like the cute and hilarious baby sister we all wish we had. We really are all a family. We might fight and argue, but at the end of the day, we love eachother so much,” Dodson said.

  Stings experience a lot of physical and mental pressure when at a competition.

“Competitions are very stressful because you have a lot of costume changes but not a lot of time between dances. However, you get to see so many amazing teams. It’s an entire day full of dancing, and you are with the team so we make the stressful day really fun,” Beyer said.

  While at competition, the Stings get to show off their skills and what they have been working for this year.

  “My favorite part is the adrenaline rush and the feeling you get out on the court/stage when you know you’re giving it your all and everyone is cheering,” Dodson said.

However, on the day of competition, the Stings see a different side of each other.

  “My least favorite part is since it is such a long day, we all get super tired and grumpy.  So towards the end of competition, we are all just ready to go home,” Beyer said.

  The Stings dance to various genres of music at competition.

  “The captains and Mrs. Kelsey choose the music. Captains give Mrs. Kelsey suggestions and Kelsey ultimately decides,” Dodson said.

  Choreography is the main part of Stings.

  “The captains split up dances to choreograph. Two or three captains will get together and choreograph and then Kelsey, our director, helps choreograph. This year she choreographed one dance,” Beyer said.

  The Stingerettes have five captains that lead the rest of the team.

  “Being a captain means being a leader and a role model. There are always people watching you, team members, teachers, little girls, everyone. We want what’s best for the team and are prepared to do whatever it takes to make those things happen. I love my team so much, and I am so blessed to have been their captain over the past two years,” said Dodson.

  This dance program benefits a person during and after high school.

  “I wouldn’t be who I am today without the Stings. This is the greatest organization I have been a part of. I have grown as a person, leader, and dancer in the past four years because of this team. The things I’ve learned from being a part of this team are things I will use for the rest of my life. The memories I’ve made I will carry with me. I’ve laughed, cried, gotten hurt, gotten stronger, and been pushed past my limits, but mostly I have loved. This organization has taught me to love others, love dance, and to love myself. I wouldn’t be who I am today if I wasn’t a part of this team. I am so thankful for this team, and I wouldn’t trade the past four years for the world,” said Dodson.

  Kelsey encourages and teaches the girls not only to be better dancers but people, too.

  “She is like a second mom so she encourages us to be the best dancers, but also people we could be! She is an amazing leader and role model, and I’m so grateful for all the stuff she has taught me,” Beyer said.