Four time national bronze medalists, nine time regional champions, and 13 hard working dancers all describe one of the best all star dance teams in the Midwest: Edge All Stars. Six of these nationally ranked athletes walk the halls at Pioneer everyday: Seniors Lauren Fortini, Allison Arrieta, Isabel Rivera, and Mina Bradner, Junior Grace Geer, and Freshman Catie Burke.
Based in Dexter, the competitive dance team was established in May 2020 with nine dancers, all aged from 13-15. Since then, dozens of girls have tried out for the team ranging from ages 13-18, but only 13 made the cut this year. Of those 13, 10 are graduating seniors.
“With each year there came new goals along with challenges,” said Lauren Fortini, Pioneer senior and one of the team captains. Fortini has been on the team since the very beginning, and has been recognized as a captain for four of those five years. “Those challenges include new coaches some years, new members each year, and all the little things in between.”
The team has gone through several coaching changes since the start, but has really found their stride with the leadership of coaches Jen Davenport and Mackenzie Dubey. The pair graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2024 after being on the dance team for three years and securing a Dance Team Union (DTU) College Classic National Championship win for their pom routine in 2023. Though they’re both only a few years older than their dancers, they clearly have a surplus of knowledge and experience regarding the dance team world.
“I was a member of Stevenson High School’s varsity dance team for all four years of high school before joining Eastern’s team for three,” said Coach Mackenzie Dubey. Despite her thorough experience as a performer, being a Coach is a whole different ball game. “The biggest coaching challenge would be getting the girls to trust me and trust the process,” said Dubey. “These girls knew each other when I came in, so being a stranger to them was definitely the most difficult at the start.”
The two may just look like your basic college students, but they are intense coaches that accept only the best out of their dancers. “We are tough and we do have very high expectations. We don’t tolerate anything less than 100 percent effort,” said Coach Jen Davenport. Pioneer senior Mina Bradner is a newer addition to the team, but really appreciates the passion that the coaches have for the program. “I was really intimidated by them at first,” Bradner said. “But then I realized everything they do is for the betterment of the team.”
Not only has the team had competitive success, but the program also prepares young dancers for collegiate dance teams and beyond. “I am definitely planning on dancing in college,” said Fortini. The Edge All Star veteran is an official recruit for some very competitive teams, including the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. “I’ve been dancing for over 10 years and I can’t imagine dance not being a part of my life.”
Another Pioneer senior, Allison Arrieta, has been a key member of the team for four years, and been a captain for two. “Because I care so much about this program and team, being a captain can definitely come with some pressure,” she said. “It comes with the responsibilities of problem solving, helping to motivate and encourage the team to always work hard towards our goals, leading by example, and taking initiative.”
Though Arrieta is one of the oldest members of the team, Edge does have one freshman, Catie Burke, the “baby” of the team. Last year, Burke performed as the only middle schooler on a team filled with older, more experienced high school dancers. “At first, I was really nervous about being the youngest on the team because I was at a lower level than everyone else,” Burke said. “But the team was so welcoming and supportive and has never made me feel like I don’t belong.”
Pioneer junior Grace Geer agrees with Burke regarding the welcoming nature of Edge All Stars. “Our team environment is incredibly supportive,” said Geer. “We hold each other accountable when we need to, lift each other up, and make sure no one feels left behind.”
As for the rest of the season, all of the team’s members are thrilled about attending the Universal Dance Association (UDA) All Star National Championship in Orlando, Florida on March 7-9. They’ll be performing their routines in two very competitive divisions, Senior Pom and Senior Contemporary/Lyrical. “Getting to perform at this competition is an incredible opportunity,” said Geer. While trophies and medals are nice, Coach Dubey isn’t primarily focused on the results of the competition. “My main goal for the rest of the season would be to put out a nationals performance that not only myself, but the dancers on the team will be proud of,” she said. “I want to walk away from nationals with no regrets and feeling proud of what we accomplished.”