Drill Team Accused Of Plagiarizing Utah’s Copper Hill’s Azurettes
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While the Minnesota State High School League is investigating the other teams’ boycott during the award ceremony after the Faribault Emeralds won the state high school high-kick dance tournament, many are still scratching their heads over what really happened.
The protesting teams were subsequently disqualified for “unsportsmanlike conduct” after they refused to line up for the awards ceremony. No second- or third-place trophies or medals were awarded. It is now being said that those 5 coaches maybe losing their jobs.
The coaches that were a part of the protest along with 150 other dancers and parents are some of the most respected people in the dance community. Their decision to unanimously protest the league’s ruling that the Faribault team did not break any rules, may explain why many are confused by the boycott.
The coach of the Faribault Emeralds admits that she used the Copper Hills concept and some parts of their routine, but insists that she did not break any rules in doing so. The Minnesota State High School League agrees, and last Thursday the league sent out a letter to all the parties involved stating that the Emeralds were not guilty of any wrongdoing.
High kick may be different from drill, but the similarities between the two routines is a cause for concern for many in the community. Both teams are using the same song, “Aliens” by Figure, but edited the song in such a way that the same dance moves were in different parts of the program. And their costumes seem to be eerily similar.
Shannon Mortensen, the head coach of Copper Hills Drill Team, said that the controversy has really not affected their program nor did it take away from the accomplishment in winning the state title last year.
She did mention however, that the repercussions coming down on the teams that boycotted the awards ceremony are just not the right thing to do. “What really bothers me is that I’ve heard these five coaches, may lose their jobs. I think it sends the wrong message to the dance community and will make others in the future question if they should stand up for what is right or wrong,” she said.
Mortensen further states that what they did should be taken more seriously and not just brushed under the rug. “These coaches are professionals, they know when there has been a clear violation and to them, the routine was clearly copied,” she said. “But based on the decisions of those not in any sort of dance profession (members of the MSHSL) they may suffer unfortunate consequences.”
If you’re interested in seeing last years 1st place state character performance from the Copper Hills Azurettes here is the link.
Faribault native here, the emeralds are not a drill team, we don’t have one of those. The emeralds are a DANCE TEAM, get the facts straight before publishing. Also it’s spelled Faribault, not fairbault.
I am a mother of a Faribault Danceline member, my daughter made the Varsity team as a seventh grader and is currently a senior this year.
I would like to say I understand where all parties are coming from, HOWEVER what took place during the award ceremony was NOT OK! If these teams wanted to make a stand/protest it could of been done in a different way, like why even compete in FINALS if you were going to throw it away anyways? Anyone commenting on this situation cannot BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THEIR ACTIONS unless you were present at the Target Center that evening..
Looking back, how PARENTS,GRANDPARENTS, AUNTS, UNCLES, SIBLINGS AND FANS could just sit in their seats and not think there was anything wrong is unbelievable.. I was in SHOCK!!
What transpired throughout the day NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH, if you all were unaware these dance teams bullied these girls throughout the day. Calling them names while passing their make up room, in passing during marking times, and after the competition had ended.
There is a area where parents can meet their parents afterwards, of which these dancers ran through the crowd yelling names and laughing is UNCALLED FOR!! Of which parents went right along with them, WHOSE THE ADULT HERE?!
To the Utah coach,” Can you HONESTLY say you would allow that to happen to your girls or protest in that matter?”
One last thing, It has been brought to light by coaches of teams that did not make it to finals along with AA coaches that this was a
PRE MEDITATED ACT. After pre lims our girls were sitting in 1st place. SHAME ON THESE COACHES for having such poor sportsmanship and also denying these seniors of opposing teams their 2nd and 3rd place medals and trophies