On March 9 at the East HS Auditorium, Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) held the fourth annual Drill and Dance Team Festival for youth in grades kindergarten through 12.

MSCR started the Drill and Dance Team Festival to be a culminating event for the after school drill and dance clubs at the middle schools. In order to improve the participation and community impact of the event, MSCR decided to invite drill and dance teams from other grade levels and local community groups to perform as well.

The MSCR Drill and Dance Team Festival is not a competition but rather a showcase where teams, at all different levels, get an opportunity to perform on stage in front of an audience. Participants also can see what other teams are doing.

The event has grown in popularity and participation each year.

This year's festival included teams from Whitehorse, Sennett, Sherman, Toki and Cherokee Middle Schools; East, West and Middleton High Schools; and Falk Elementary School.

Several community-based teams also performed. The festival featured an emcee and DJ, who played to a packed house.

The teams are coached by a combination of MSCR paid staff, youth and adult volunteers.

The teams are thankful for another opportunity to perform and show off their hard work.