by Dennis Dalman
A big audience at St. Paul’s Target Center on Feb. 15 erupted in joy and amazement as the Sartell Sabres Dance Team wowed spectators with an astonishing high-kick performance of dazzling grace, explosive energy and breathtaking precision.
(To watch the extraordinary performance, visit the Sartell Sabres Team Facebook page.)
The team of about two dozen dancers won third place in the Class AAA state tournament – a first for the Sabres dancers. In 2022, the team was bumped up from Class AA state competition to Class AAA.
The Brainerd team won first; Eastview took second place. The teams from Lakeville North, Edina and Wayzata won fourth, fifth and sixth places respectively.
The Sabres dancers wore electric-blue sparkling vests and black pants with white fringes on the sides. To a rousing, energetic song, they performed an intricate choreography of fluid dance-kick lines, circles and geometric configurations. It was like watching an ever-shifting kaleidoscope of astonishing gliding movements punctuated by seemingly effortless high kicks. The audience burst into wild applause when the dance ended.
The varsity Sabres’ head dance coach is Kelly McCarney; Kelsey Stoebe is assistant varsity coach. McCarney founded the Sartell High School Dance program, varsity and junior varsity, in 2002. Since then, she has led the team to a series of state-tournament triumphs, winning championships for the High-Kick category seven times, second place for High Kick three times and third place once. In the Jazz category, the Sabres placed third place five times, tied for first in 2020 and in 2021 they were named state champs in Jazz for the first time.
After moving to Class AAA in 2022, the Sabres Dance Team finished fourth in Jazz that year and then in 2023, the team placed fourth in High Kick and sixth place in Jazz.
The 2024-2025 Sabres Dance Team captains are Ellie Arduser, Lola Sens and Maddie Winters.
After the Target Center performance, the Sabres Dance Team Facebook page filled with laudatory comments. The following are just a few examples:
“So proud of this hardworking group of girls.”
“SO PROUD!!!!! Couldn’t be happier and more excited for this team.”
“No one more deserving.”
“Congratulations! Well deserved. Finals performance was amazing!”
