The Global Dance + Cheer Games , is an invitation-only international championship for dance and cheerleading teams. It's a three-day event that includes a Parade of Nations, Opening Ceremony, cultural exchange, and a two-day global championship.

This May, I had the incredible opportunity to compete at the Global D+C Games held at the Hawaiian Convention Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, alongside teams from New Zealand, Australia, the USA, Canada, and China.

Our club, All Star Pride, brought two teams: Lynx (Senior Level 2) and Panthers (Senior Level 3). The competition spanned three days, kicking off with the opening ceremony on Friday night, followed by two full days of high-energy performances on Saturday and Sunday, concluding with the closing ceremony on Sunday evening, where the Grand Champion results were announced. We spent a total of eight unforgettable days in Hawaii, three of which were dedicated to the competition.

Both of our 2-minute and 30-second routines were met with great success. Lynx took 1st place in our division, were crowned Level 2 Grand Champions, and placed 4th overall across all divisions in the competition. We earned a gold medal, a bag, a jacket, and a large banner (which stays at the gym), as well as a championship ring, mini banner, and trophy for our grand champ title. Panthers placed 2nd in our division and were 1st runner-up for Level 3 Grand Champs, receiving a silver medal and a big banner.

On Lynx, I base (a base refers to the cheerleader(s) who support and lift the flyer during stunts) as a secondary and back base, and on Panthers, I rotate between back base and main base, covering all three basing roles. With 14 team members on Lynx and 15 on Panthers, I train 12 hours a week, plus additional practices during holidays or Sundays leading up to competitions.

It was an intense and rewarding experience representing our club on the international stage, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we accomplished!

• Tanesha Sandri