By Ken Hansard
Coach Melanie Perkins is in her 19th year of leading the Carthage High School dance team, the “Royal Tigerettes.” The Tigerettes, or Royal-T’s, compete as a Division 5 School in the MODTA (Missouri Dance Team Association).
The Tigerettes will travel to Orlando to compete in the 2025 Dance Team Union (DTU) Nationals, which runs from February 14-16. The Royal-T’s will compete against hundreds of top teams from across the country. Coach Perkins had this to say about the competition, “We love attending regional competitions and seeing local schools, but having the opportunity to compete on a National stage is huge for our team!”
The Tigerettes are led by senior team captain Ambree Hoover, who is in her fourth year as a varsity member of the squad. Coach Perkins says of Hoover, “She is the epitome of a great leader. She is amazingly talented but humble and hardworking. She has helped set a great tone for all members of the team.” Hoover is joined by juniors and three-time varsity dancers Haysia Osborne and Laney Wilson. “Ambree, Haysia, and Laney were all a part of the team during our last appearance at DTU Nationals in 2023. It’s great to have three returners who have been on this stage before and know what to expect!”
Last season the Tigerettes took home first place in both the Dance and Mix categories at the Division 5A / 6A regionals. They also won first place in Division 5 Mix and fifth place in Division 5 Jazz at the Missouri State Championships. The last time that Carthage was at the DTU Nationals in 2023, they placed seventh in Small Team Performance and 12th in the Spirit Showdown.
The Carthage dance team has a long and proud tradition. Coach Melanie (Bowers) Perkins, an alumnus of Carthage High, danced on the inaugural team for the Tigerettes in 2000. Upon returning to Carthage after college in 2006, she took over as the head coach and has been at the helm ever since.
Coach Perkins finished with high praise for all her girls, “I am extremely proud of these dancers. They train year-round! Outside of dance team practices, they average another 10-12 hours each week training in the dance studio. The dedication and determination they have is unmatched. We have a combination of a few upperclassmen and several new freshmen. They are all extremely talented dancers. Preparing for such a big season and traveling to a national competition takes just the right group dynamic. I credit these dancers for their focus, for their work ethic, and for their character. They are talented dancers, but they keep their egos in check and work as a team. I am extremely proud of that.”
