SEO: Phunktions dance team wins first place

Miranda Vega helps lead her team to victory

Freshman wins first dance competition of college
By: Allison Beres
Palms sweating and heart racing, Miranda Vega waited in the wings of the stage,
preparing for her first college group dance competition. Worried about nailing her
routine, Vega went over the routine in her head while watching the other dance teams
compete.
Vega, sophomore communication student, has been dancing since she was 7 years
old. In the fall of her freshman year, she decided to join Phunktions dance team.
Practicing for months and for hours each day, Vega stood, ready for
her first dance competition. Vega did not know as she walked
onstage, that her team, Phunktions, would go and win the
competition.
Dancers from different schools traveled for this competition.
Vega walked onto the stage and felt a sense of home. If I feel

Meet Miranda
Hometown- Neptune, New
Jersey
Favorite movie- Happy
Gilmore
Favorite book- To Kill a
Mockingbird
Best decision- going to UMD
Favorite song right nowPromises by Jhene Aiko
Hero- mother Sandra

comfortable with the stage, choreography and my body then I am

fine, Venga said. Vega danced without a hitch. As soon as the dance was over, the crowd
roared and the team left the stage hugging and jumping.

(more)

Beres, COMM231- 0201, W/R 2 TA 1 Dance

Pt. 2
Winning first place
Standing on the stage during the awards ceremony, Vega clasped hands with her
fellow teammates, composed mostly of freshmen and seniors, and waited for the results.
The judged had decided. The Phunktions won first place. Mirandas teammates surround
her with an eruption of screaming and jumping. Vega
floated from one teammate to another, sharing hugs and
exclamations. It was cool for the seniors to end their
journey and for me to start mine with this victory,
Miranda Vega practices for big
competition
Photo credit by: Monique
Watson

Miranda said.
That first performance was a validation of all the

hard work in the dance studios, Vega said. That same excitement she felt for dancing
when she was 7 years old still runs through Vegas veins. Looking like a typical dancer
with flat shoes and her hair in a bun as she retells this story, Vega said that first
competition was an experience I will always take with me.

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