Catch Loyalty on BET on Wednesday, March 25, at 5 p.m.

So you think you can dance? Maybe you can, but betcha not like these kids; and they’re serious about proving they’re the best.

Loyalty Dance Team was created in the summer of 2007 by captain Jason Hill with six original members. The co-ed Murfreesboro team is now comprised of 14 young and talented dancers who have won contest after contest all over the country. Their most recent win was Blaze the Stage in New York City on Dec. 29.

On Oct. 4, after winning first place at Heritage Festival in Atlanta, Loyalty secured a spot to return to New York to compete on March 25 on BET’s cable show, “106 and Park.” They’ll be competing against two other teams where they’ll have only a minute and 15 seconds to wow the judges.

To be in top form, Loyalty’s members practice at least three days a week for several hours at a time at Watkins Unlimited Studio. Their practices are intense and non-stop. Each dancer’s determination and dedication to his or her craft is always evident as they stomp, flip and pop each move.

Along with their strenuous dance schedule, each member, ages 14 to 19, is a full-time student in a Murfreesboro high school, except for one at MTSU.

Each has a passion for dance and performance but an even bigger passion for their team. Many of the students were involved with other dance troupes or school teams like the Halftimers and had to choose between those or Loyalty.

Seventeen-year-old Antondria Minter says, “Dancing is my life.”

The team is managed by four dedicated women who are also mothers of several of the team members. Latrice Richardson, team manager and mother of captain Jason and other member JaVonn says, “Integrity is a big part of what we do. Each member is loyal to the others and loyal to the team. Each member trusts the others with their own dance career.

“So many of the kids just needed an outlet,” she continues. They are dedicated and self-motivated. We take care of them like they are our own.”

Kim Heatherly, director of public relations for the team and mother of member Ashlie says, “We’re not part of TSSAA, but we still hold our kids to the highest standards. We help each student focus on goals and we promote good grades.”

Richardson echoes, “You have to have school to back you. If each child is working this hard on dance, they have to work just as hard in school.”

On Friday, March 13, Loyalty Dance Team will host a fundraising party to help with the cost of their trip to New York on March 25. The party will be at the Middle Tennessee Association of Realtors building on Butler Drive in Murfreesboro. The team is set to perform what is sure to be a fierce display of talent.

Loyalty is also available to be booked for parties, events and parades.

To sponsor Loyalty, which is a non-profit organization, contact Latrice Richardson at latrice@loyaltydanceteam.com

For more information on the team, visit loyaltydanceteam.com.

IF YOU GO:

Cost: $7 before 10 p.m.; $10 after 10 p.m.