Before 14-year-old Dominique Severino was set to enter Weehawken High School in the fall, she attended a cheerleading camp with the rest of the Weehawken cheerleading team, just to get accustomed to her new teammates.
The camp was held last summer at Harrison High School and approximately 50 or so young ladies attended. Severino, who already had an extensive background in dance and performing arts, wanted to give cheerleading a try. Attending the camp represented the perfect opportunity.
Little did she know that the camp was about to become even more perfect.
Also attending the three-day camp were representatives from the National Cheerleading and Dance Association. They were looking for up-and-coming talented cheerleaders with bright futures, who could possibly perform at major competitions and presentations.
“I never knew anything about it,” Severino said. “I just went to the camp to be a part of the team, because Ms. [Suzanne] Dorsey [the school’s cheerleading coach] asked me to go. I didn’t know about the competition.”
The NCDA was holding a mini-competition at the camp, to see if there were any dancers and cheerleaders that fit the mold for their national team. The association grades for cheering, jumping ability, spirit and tumbling. If the prospective candidate scored well, then she would be invited to participate with the group at the annual Hula Bowl College All-Star game in Oahu, Hawaii on Jan. 20.
In the audition, Severino received a score of 28 points, out of the maximum 30. Needless to say, she was well on her way to Hawaii.
“I definitely had no idea that could happen,” Dorsey said. “Dominique had just joined the team and we were going to the camp to get some experience. But it was amazing. Dominique just stood out from the rest of the crowd from the minute she walked in. The idea of going to Hawaii was mentioned in the beginning of the camp, but I didn’t pay much attention to it. Until they wanted Dominique to try out for the team.”
Severino was selected to perform with the team, in both the pre-game and halftime ceremonies. She leaves for Hawaii Monday and will spend the rest of the week rehearsing with the NCDA team of 50 young ladies from all over the nation.
Severino was so impressive with her audition that she will perform with both the cheerleading team and the dance team at the Hula Bowl.
“I’m so excited,” Severino said. “I’m going to go onto the plane wearing a winter jacket and step off in hot and sunny Hawaii. I think this is a great opportunity and will open up a lot of doors for me. I’ve never been to Hawaii, so it’s going to be so much fun.”
Hectic schedule
Severino endures a hectic schedule. She also performs with a local dance group, the Starfire Dance Group of Lincoln Park, N.J., where she heads six days a week for rehearsals and training. She is so talented in her dance skills that she is a member of Starfire’s senior division team (ages 16 and up) and she is only 14.
Starfire travels to dance competitions all over the nation, including Florida, Las Vegas, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
“I love dancing,” Severino said. “It’s my life. I compete in all forms of dance, like ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap, modern and acro-gymnastics.”
With Starfire, Severino is also able to compete in singing competitions and monologue reading.
Severino has also choreographed two solo dance routines that she performs, dancing to the songs, “My Baby You” by Marc Anthony, and “Hero” from the “Footloose” soundtrack.
Her frantic pace takes her from cheerleading practice after school to dance rehearsals until late at night.
“I love it,” Severino said. “If I didn’t have this schedule, I’d be so bored. When it snowed, I was stuck in the house for two days and I didn’t know what to do with myself. I was pacing the floors.”
Severino is hopeful that the trip to Hawaii pays off in the long run.
“My priority is that I want to go to a college with a performing arts program,” Severino said. “If they also have a good football team, then maybe I can get a scholarship for cheerleading, so I hope I get noticed in Hawaii.”
That would be the benefit, because Severino’s mother has to foot the bill for the trip to Hawaii. It’s been a costly venture. The family is looking for sponsors that would be willing to donate to help defray the costs.
Right now, nothing can dampen the excitement.
“It’s definitely unbelievable,” Dorsey said. “She definitely came in with a lot of talent, but I don’t think anyone could have dreamed that she would go to Hawaii. She has such a great personality and she’s a pleasure to coach. She works 10 times harder than anyone else. And her talent is amazing. I’ve never seen anyone like it. She just goes and goes. She’s wonderful, has a bright future ahead of her. The team is also very excited for her.”
There is one drawback to Dominique’s Hawaiian excursion. Mid-term exams begin next Tuesday and Dominique is flying back to the area next Monday.
“I’m going to have to study for exams while I’m there, then fly all the way home and take two exams with jet lag,” Severino said. “It’s going to be real tough. I’m hoping to get reviews from the teachers to take with me.” However, she’ll live with it for now. It’s not every day that a kid from Weehawken ends up in Hawaii.
“It’s way too awesome,” Severino said.
Way.
If anyone is interested in helping to sponsor Severino and her trip to Hawaii, contact the Board of Education office at 867-2243.