By ROBERT L. LEE

PAULINA – In a scant three months, 13 girls from grades 3-6 organized, practiced and won superior rankings in a Jan. 5 dance competition. In their very first competition, the dancers took home the two superior rankings for the jazz category and the pompon category, as well as second place rankings in the state for their prop and novelty routine. In dance competitions, superior rankings follow first, second and third rankings, with outstanding being the lowest ranking.

The girls’ honor becomes even more impressive, however, when their competition is factored in. While some of the dancers had never strode across a stage, girls from all of the other competing teams were in grades 6-8.

Under the guidance of Ashley Nassar, a student and all-State dancer from Southeastern University, the girls took to the stage and performed four acts with Disney themes. Paulina Principal Michael Avant selected Nassar because of her list of merits for dancing and because of her previous success helping choreograph “I am your child” at Paulina Elementary last year.

“This is the first time for an established Paulina Pride program,” said Nassar. “Just by starting this program is an accomplishment.”

For the name of the new group, Nassar asked the girls for suggestions, then discussed their ideas with Avant to come up with “The Pelican Pride,” then “Paulina Pride.”

“They are amazing little girls. Some of them have never taken dancing lessons before, now dancing is opening a few doors for them. They’re wild about it and we are going to do it again next year,” Nassar continued. “And the parents have been so supportive with everything and making props.”

Before the girls focus on plans for next year, they will continue practicing twice each week for the national competition they were invited to in Orlando Fla. The competition will take place in Orlando’s Hard Rock Cafe Feb. 22-25 and will be televised nationally.

Nassar said her group will continue practicing the four Disney acts that earned them their first recognition and perform them in Florida.

Nassar held tryouts for the group in October and said more than 40 girls showed up to dance for a spot on stage. After checking all of the girls’ grades and watching the tryouts, Nassar selected the 13 girls who currently make up the group.

Soon after their tryouts, the Paulina Pride dancers made their public debut at the bonfire festival, displaying two of their acts. They learned their other two dances only days before the Jan. 5 competition.

“I am very pleased with their performances,” said Nassar. “They all did outstanding jobs.”

Nassar said she is trying to arrange for the girls to perform for the community, starting with the parent-teacher organization and the students at Paulina Elementary this week.

In April of this year, Nassar will again use her talents to choreograph “Finding my way,” before graduating from Southeastern University in May as a social worker.