ROCHESTER, Minn. — The Sidney Just for Kix dance program put on a championship-caliber performance at the 2025 Just For Kix Nationals in Rochester, Minnesota over the weekend, capturing 10 national titles (six from Varsity and four from Dazzlers) and earning top-three finishes in every Varsity Senior Showcase division. The program also earned four second-place results across multiple age divisions and styles.

Sidney Varsity dancers made program history by winning first place in the prestigious Kick Senior Showcase A Division, where all judges unanimously awarded them top rankings.

"They were first after prelims and they stayed in first after a strong finals performance," Coach Donna Fort, in her 30th season coaching dance, said. "Executing their straight line kicks perfectly, along with their dynamic handstands near the end of the routine. It was beyond exciting! They earned Double Platinum scores - a score of 250+ earns double platinum, they earned 272. This kick finals score was the highest in team history." 

The Varsity squad also won national championships in all five of their Together We Dance (TWD) routines: Kick, Pom, Hip Hop, Jazz and Lyrical. Nearly every performance received Double Platinum honors. The team took second place in both the Pom and Hip Hop Senior Showcase divisions.

"I have never experienced anything like this," Fort said. "The great leadership from our high school age dancers made all the difference. Our dancers were prepared, and it showed every time they stepped on the competition floor. These dancers were in their element and we had so much fun."

On the rising side of the program, the Dazzlers earned their first-ever Double Platinum score for their kick performance, which landed them in second place - missing first place by one point - in a competitive division. The young team also claimed national titles in Middle Hip Hop, Pom, Jazz and Lyrical divisions, all with Platinum ratings.

"It was a tough division," Fort said. "They had their best kick performance of the year. It was a very successful first trip to Nationals for these young dancers."

Individually, sixth-grader Ava Brown finished fourth out of 43 soloists in her division. The duet of Reece Currier and Olivia Ford, juniors at Sidney High School, earned second place in the Senior Division out of 21 duets.

In total, Sidney JFK dancers performed 18 routines over the course of the four-day competition. Fort says the dancers represented Sidney well beyond words with their performances, moments and big wins.

"So many tears of joy from dancers and their family members," Fort said. "There was a strong constant, collective feeling of overwhelming pride among all of us there to support these athletes. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. So much pride for these dancers and what they were accomplishing, win after win after win, yet they stayed humble & focused and we were on to the next performance."