Before leaving today for the Universal Dance Association national championship competition at Disney World in Orlando, FL, this weekend, the ISU Bengal Dancers performed Wednesday for members of the community and other local dance teams from around Southeast Idaho.

    Kolissa Manchen, the team’s first-year coach and founding member of the team in 2000, says the team is successful because of their dedication to the team and to each another.

    “They’ve given up a lot and sacrificed,” Manchen said.

    The Bengal dance team is ranked tenth in the nation after having submitted a video to UDA officials.  Also considered was the team’s performance while at camp this past August in Milwaukee, WI.  Now the team has to compete to cement its national spot.

    Manchen says the current group amazes her because none of them have ever danced together before joining this team. All of the dancers come from different studios and have different styles. Manchen says that these obstacles are usually very difficult to overcome.

    “But they did it,” she said.

    Although the team has never won this particular competition — it has finished as high as third in the past — it won the United Spirit Association Dance Nationals competition held in Las Vegas in 2007 and 2008.

    While introducing the team to the audience before they performed their hip hop routine, Manchen said that they were only headed to nationals because of what they were willing to give up.

    “These girls have given up spending time with family and friends and hanging out,” she said.

    All of the members of the Bengal Dancers are from Southeast Idaho, including Manchen, who is from American Falls. Co-team captains Kasja Watt and Savana Scheiss hail from Blackfoot and Pocatello respectively.  Other members represent American Falls, Rupert, Shelley, Burley, Idaho Falls and Rigby.

    The team will compete this weekend Sunday and Monday.