'You don’t want to let your country down': Hartford dance team represents nation on world stage
HARTFORD, Wis. (CBS 58) -- With multiple world championships in the bag, a Hartford dance studio continues to leave their mark on stages across the world.
"I like to say pressure is a privilege," said Energizers Dancer, Ava Olson.
Just like their namesake, when it comes to the dance floor, the Energizers Dance Team brings the energy, leaving it all on the floor.
The teams hard work and dedication has brought them to the world stag and the team is always up for a challenge.
"To be able to see that our program from little Hartford, you know such a small place be competitive against not only incredible teams in our country with population 300 times our size, but across the world, is just something that’s not able to be thought about," said Energizers Dance coach Alexis Trost. "We did that."
Dancers Sydney Martin and Allison Hoeft were selected from the Energizers to be the United States National Pom Doubles Team. They took the stage at the World Game Series in Hong Kong.
"Just knowing like you represented the whole nation," said Hoeft. "Just two girls out on the stage completely in a different place," said Hoeft. "It's such a surreal feeling,"
The honor was no easy feat, the two dancers beat out everyone who auditioned not only in Wisconsin, but across the country.
The two dominated on the world stage, securing gold and earning a bid to the World Games in China next year.
"It was such an honor standing up there with our flag, our medals getting placed around our neck just like you see in the Olympics," said Martin. "It was surreal."
Just as the team was celebrating the big win, another opportunity came knocking for the Energizers.
"We had just gotten back and were kind of on that high and got a call," said Alexis Trost. "They were hoping for U.S. representation at the World Cup and we're like I don’t know if we can do this,"
That’s when dancers Ava Olson and 24-year-old Cierra Trost rose to the challenge.
The two dancers had just two weeks to put together a perfect routine and represent the U.S. in the Pom Doubles Competition in Seoul, South Korea.
"Having USA on your chest is just a whole new kind of stress, kind of pressure," said Cierra Trost. "You don’t want to let your country down, you don’t want to let yourself down and especially learning and competing a routine in two weeks."
Time was no problem for these pros, as they brought home yet another gold.
"We just came and represented a town of 15,000 people and we dominated."
All four gold medal dancers are from Hartford. They have been dancing with the team for years and take pride in their hometown.
"To be able to say yes I am from Hartford, Wisconsin and I am with the Energizers Dance Team, that makes me, I don’t even think I can put truly into words the feeling," said Cierra Trost.
When the owner and former dancer, Sheila Trost opened the studio in 1991, she never imagined it would reach these heights.
"My wildest dreams," said Sheila Trost. "You thought I'm just teaching a dance class to kids who were all having fun and now suddenly we are traveling across the world representing our country."
She says it all comes down to commitment.
"One thing I pride our program on the most, is that we are hard workers, and we have grit and we have perseverance."
The team keeping their eyes on the prize, always ready for the next opportunity
"The hard work just never stops," said Allison Hoeft. "It's constantly doing the routine to make sure it's our best, we feel confident. If it wasn’t confident, you do it again, because you’ve got to make sure it's the best it will ever be."
All while inspiring the next generation along the way.