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Milwaukee dance team headed to LA for national dance competition

Posted at 7:11 PM, Jul 20, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-21 10:09:35-04

MILWAUKEE, WI - A local dance team is heading to the city of angels for the opportunity of a lifetime.

Fifteen Boys & Girls Club members from Milwaukee will take center stage at the Monsters dance competition in LA over the weekend.

“We won second place at Monsters Chicago and now we get to go to LA," said Jacob Richardson.

It's an opportunity unlike any other for Richardson. He’s never visited LA before, but his plan once he gets there is to grow as a dancer.

“I want to get better," Richardson said.

"Then I want to come back and then maintain how I was in LA," he continued.

Richardson isn’t on this journey alone, he’ll be dancing with a group of 14 other teens, and the team's goal is to put Milwaukee on the map by showing the judges what they're made of.

“[We're] going [to go] on stage and [show] all the audience and the judges what we have," said Deanna Frick.

"And [show] that the Boys & Girls Club can do really good," she continued.

The proof is in the pudding. Just last year in Chicago the team competed in the Monsters dance competition but didn't place. This year, they took second and that's how they qualified to compete in LA, where they'll go up against the best of the best. 

“For us to be in that same arena is just mind blowing," said Cedric Gardner.

But aiming high is also something Gardner, the dance instructor, expects from his students. That's why he reminds them each day, nothing is impossible.

"Don't feel like a goal is too big," Gardner said.

"If it's really really big, you might have to have more steps, but have that action plan leading up to the goal," he continued. 

The trip for the teens was made possible through sponsors and donations. The team leaves for LA Sunday.