The feeling of being a world champion is something not many people get to experience. It is a once in a lifetime accomplishment LHS junior, Brooke O’Connor, achieved at the 2018 Dance Worlds. O’Connor received not one, but two gold medals.

O’Connor has been dancing for Champion Legacy for 13 years. For the past five years, O’Connor has competed with Champion Legacy at the Worlds dance competition.

“Worlds is the Olympics for dance, so teams from all over the world are invited to come compete in Florida, making it way more competitive compared to other dance competitions,” said O’Connor. “In order to go to Worlds, a team must receive an at large bid or a paid bid to the dance Worlds. Teams are able to receive these bids from other national dance competitions.”

At O’Connor’s second year at worlds, her team took home the gold medal for senior hip-hop. This year, Champion Legacy came home with the title of being the best in the world for the jazz and pom category. Champion Legacy also placed fourth place in lyrical and hip-hop.

Becoming a World Champ does not come easy. O’Connor and her team spent countless hours in the gym practicing and perfecting each dance routine all year.

“We practice every day for three hours,” said O’Connor. “We also have different choreographers come in to help perfect our routines.”

While there are 40 different countries representing themselves at Worlds, O’Connor represented not only the U.S., but South Dakota well.

This special moment is something that O’Connor will never forget. The feeling of being the best in the world is an indescribable feeling.

“It was a surreal feeling winning both jazz then pom,” said O’Connor. “It’s a hard feeling to describe because it still doesn’t feel real.”

Congratulations to the World Champ herself, Brooke O’Connor. Thanks for representing the U.S., SD and LHS well.