Some people think they can dance, but the students at the Washington State Dance/Drill District Qualifying Invitational actually can.

Bonney Lake High hosted its first invitational Saturday at the high school with more than a dozen schools in competition. The teams performed in categories of drill, pom and hip-hop.

Students from Bonney Lake and Sumner High dance for the same team following the disbandment of the Sumner dance program due to budget cuts.

Under the coaching of Jill McKinley, the team practices year-round including during the summer. The dedication resulted in the team’s first trophy when they took fourth place at the Hazen High tournament.

Before performing their pom routine, two of the team’s dancers discussed the level of preparation involved when on the dance team.

Team Captain Breanna Zimbelman, a junior, said the team achieves what it strives to do.

“When we set a goal we work super-super hard to achieve it,” she said.

Senior Karisa Zunach said the team practices at least nine hours each week in order to learn and perfect the routine. The Bonney Lake pom team performed to a sampling of songs from “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” The decision on which songs to perform to is the result of a collaborative brainstorming effort.

Between performances dancers not seated in the bleachers watched through the small windows of the doors leading to the gym. While Bonney Lake couldn’t place in the competition on Saturday because the school hosted the tournament, the teammates were intently watching the other teams. Zimbelman said all the teams she watched competed well and Decatur was a standout school.

McKinley said dance is fiercely competitive and athletic.

“It’s a pretty competitive sport. And it is a sport,” she said.